CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to build a school on a former toxic waste site in Newport are angry the Assembly gave the green light to a funding deal.

Last week the Assembly approved a private finance initiative deal worth £9.7 million to build a replacement building for the crumbling Durham Road infant and junior schools.

Newport council will pay Vinci Investments to design, build, maintain and operate the long-awaited £14 million school over a 25-year-period, after which the council will have control.

It is now set to open on the Glebelands playing fields in May 2009.

But residents who have fought the scheme for many years are unhappy at the decision.

John Martin, from the Glebelands Action Group, said: " We don't want the project to go ahead because we don't want a school built on a contaminated site.

"And this PFI decision is putting our kids in debt to a private firm for the next 25 years."

Officials insist the contaminated ground beneath the site will be cleared and guaranteed safe for 25 years, with an under-floor barrier planned, along with a soil capping layer.

But action group member Brian O'Donovan said: "I'm not convinced by their arguments, and neither are a lot of people.

"I don't want my grandchildren educated on an old waste tip."

Campaigners vowed to fight on and continue to ask questions throughout the development of the site.

St Julians councillor Ed Towsend said the scheme is long overdue, and it's now time to press on with the job.

"I still agree it's the wrong place for a school but that battle was lost long ago," he said.

"This is a major undertaking that is going to cause considerable disruption to people in the area. The council must now keep its promise to consult residents in the area every step of the way."

The council said it is confident the partnership with Vinci will be "highly successful" and that the new schools will play a significant part in raising levels of achievement amongst Newport children.