THE legal firm behind a judicial review case against Newport Council have confirmed the case has been dropped – after Newport Council U-turned on their decision to leave a Gwent-wide children’s special needs service.

This month, Newport City Council rowed back on their decision to withdraw from SenCom – a specials needs service supporting children with visual, hearing and communication needs across all five Gwent councils.

They intended to leave the service by April 1 this year, and the decision led to a legal challenge by solicitors Watkins & Gunn.

The challenge was brought on behalf of Brogan Battersby, 9, from Beechwood, who suffers from autism and is completely blind.

Watkins and Gunn say their challenge was supported by the other four affected Councils of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Torfaen, as well as two charities RNIB Cymru and Wales Council of the Blind.

READ MORE: SenCom decision 'deferred' by Newport City Council until March 2020

The first hearing was due today (Monday, February 26) in Cardiff, but on February 13 Newport abruptly announced their intention to defer their withdrawal for another year.

Brogan’s grandmother, Dawn Battersby said: “I am pleased that nothing will change for Brogan now on the 1st April 2019.

“Losing SenCom would have been a huge blow to him. It was causing me enormous anxiety and distress. I look forward to Newport now reaching out to parents and the specialist Charities to try to work together to secure the future of the Regional Service for the benefit of all the disabled users.

READ MORE: Newport SENCOM decision criticised by Wales Council for the Blind

“I have no doubt it was the legal challenge that made the Council shift their position”.

Partner Michael Imperato, and his colleague Lucy O’Brien acted for Mrs Battersby in the judicial review proceedings. Lucy O’Brien said, “We are pleased to help ensure that the valuable SenCom Service will continue although it is disappointing that it was only after legal proceedings started that the Council heeded the concerns of the parents and specialist Charities”.

Michael Imperato said: “I can’t emphasise enough how important the work of the parents and Charities was in bringing the legal challenge forward. I would like to pay tribute to all of them for their hard work and support”.