A HEADTEACHER says he welcomes yesterday's announcement that work on the replacement for Durham Road Infants and Junior schools can begin next month.

Newport city council said developers, Vinci Investments Ltd will sign the financial agreement in March, effectively giving the green light for work to begin at the Glebelands site.

After the contract is signed it will then be sent to the National Assembly for approval.

The school first got planning permission in 2000 but a series of set backs and delays have postponed any potential opening date.

Head Teacher, Jeff Beecher, is happy with the latest announcement: "I have been here for five years waiting for this but I do think now that we are closer than ever."

He said: "When you think where we were a month ago when the thing was supposed to be signed and the developers pulled out it was pretty bad.

"The governors thought it was going to be a long delay but my staff will now be pleased."

But St Julian's ward councillors Ed Townsend and Veronica Watkins are sceptical the announcement is another delay to the building of this much-needed school.

"The real story here is it is another delay to this school that people have been wanting for 15 years," Cllr Townsend said.

"They said it was opening in September 2009 but now they are saying it is 2010."

Veronica Watkins, St Julian's councillor and school governor echoed his concerns: "The governors feel better than they did a couple of months ago when we thought it might all fall through, but we just want it all to be finalised, signed and approved by the Assembly government."