PROTESTERS battling plans to build a new school on contaminated land in Newport have vowed to fight on - despite a blow to their campaign.

On Friday the Argus reported that Wales environment minister Sue Essex gave the thumbs up to the controversial project to build a replacement school for the overcrowded Durham Road schools at the Glebelands.

Ms Essex decided the former waste tip at the Glebelands will be safe for the new Durham Road School - once it has had a major clean up.

The site put forward by Newport city council had 40 tonnes of potentially carcinogenic waste removed last year but campaigners claim it could still be contaminated with other toxic substances.

Her decision was met with fury by protesters who have fought a long campaign against the Glebelands site.

David Thorndell, a member of the Glebelands Action Group (GAG) which is campaigning for the new school to be built elsewhere, said local people are disappointed and incensed at the minister's ruling.

He added members of the GAG committee were planning to call for meetings with Assembly Members and city councillors this week, in a bid to stop the scheme going ahead.

Ms Essex rejected the protesters' arguments against the site although in a letter to the council she said she wanted "to be assured that the necessary technical expertise will be applied to setting and delivering the appropriate remediation at the site".

But Mr Thorndell, 77, of Darlington Court, said the position taken by the minister is "shocking".

He said: "The Assembly told us they couldn't give the go-ahead without making sure it was 110 per cent sure that the land wasn't contaminated.

"I am amazed the go-ahead has been given. We find ourselves in the position of going back to square one. We think the council should be looking for another site. Our preferred site is adjacent the Glebelands. It is large enough to put a school on."

And Mr Thorndell said campaigners would continue

He said: "We intend to carry on fighting to stop the building going ahead. It's not in the interests of the children or people living in the area."