A SOLUTION to the squeeze on Welsh-medium secondary education in Gwent will likely be delivered in Newport, the city's council has said.

Meanwhile a letter from Huw Lewis, education minister, has shown that Gwent councils are being expected to give details on providing Welsh-medium secondary school places by January 20.

The Argus has previously reported how the region’s only Welsh-medium secondary school that accepts pupils from multiple counties, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool, is expected to reach capacity in 2016/17.

Newport council, which is working with the other Gwent authorities on the issue, yesterday said an alternative solution will be required by September 2016.

“The solution will be a regional one and is likely to see Welsh-medium secondary education delivered in Newport. Newport City Council cabinet member for education and young people, councillor Bob Poole, is in full support of the secondary medium education provision in Newport,” a spokeswoman said.

“All local authorities are required to submit to Welsh Government proposals on its Welsh medium education provision by January 20 2014. Work on the proposal is currently being undertaken but more information will be available at the end of the year.”

Any solution will depend upon the availability of Welsh Government funding, the spokeswoman added. The solution would come into effect in 2016.

Mr Lewis told Plaid AM Lindsay Whittle that Newport and surrounding local authorities “will be required to submit their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans in line with the submission dates set out in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations which will be laid before the National Assembly shortly.”

“The intended date of submission included in these Regulations is January 20 2014. My expectation is that in submitting their Welsh in Education Plan, Newport and other neighbouring authorities will set out their plans for providing the necessary secondary Welsh-medium school places.”

He added his decision whether to approve the plan, in total or with modifications, or to reject it “will be based on whether I am convinced that the authority's plan is adequate to accommodate pupils transferring from Welsh-medium primary schools and to allow parents and these children to be informed fully.”

However he said he could only respond to the proposals “when they are set out by the relevant local authorities.”

Mr Whittle said: “While Newport council must put forward their plans, it is vital that the minister makes it absolutely clear to the local authority that it must not sell Welsh medium education short in its proposals. There must be enough places proposed to deal with the demand.”