COUNCIL chiefs are looking at new proposed sites for Torfaen's planned 'superschool' - after strong opposition to the earmarked location at Pontypool's Riverside.

The results of a feasibility study on the council's proposal to build a £21 million Torfaen Learning Centre to replace Trev- ethin Community School and Abersychan Comp- rehensive on the site of the Ty Nant Ddu day centre were heard by councillors yesterday.

The study contained a detailed topographical and ground-condition survey, an environmental impact assessment and a traffic impact assessment, as well as information abotu discussions on the issues of land acquisition and the size and use of the 1,200-pupil school.

It has been opposed by residents who do not want the day centre to be demolished.

The planned school has been dogged by controversy from the start - with the CBI pulling out of a plan to provide the project with private finance in a row over religious content in the school's curriculum.

Yesterday's seminar discussed the possibility of building the school on alternative brownfield sites in Talywain or at The British.

The closure of Trevethin School, which would cost thousands to repair and suffers from low pupil numbers, was considered as a matter of urgency.

Councillor John Turner, executive member for education, said: "We have listened to members' concerns, and members will fully explore the different options open to the council and the best way of transforming learning opportunities in north Torfaen.

"We haven't made any decision yet. Yesterday's seminar was held to provide members with all the information from our consultation meetings. "The seminar explained what we have discovered - that there is support in principle for the centre, but that the Riverside site is unpopular and we need to look at others.

"There is the Riverside site and there is the Talywain site, which is in our ownership, and we will look at the British site, but that is not in our ownership and needs to be reclaimed.

"We will look at the pros and cons of the latter, but it doesn't look to my mind as if it will be a front-runner."

The plan will be discussed by Torfaen council's cabinet committee on January 20.