THE COST of building a controversial new super school has soared £6million more than Torfaen council's original estimate.

So far, the council has £5m from its capital programme, £2m from the Assembly and £1-2m in external grants.

But it plans a major offensive to get people's backing and secure more funding to meet the revised cost of up to £20million.

It is not unusual for the cost of new-build projects to increase during the planning stages for various reasons - such as revised estimates of the cost of labour and materials.

Education director Mike de Val told last night's full council meeting: "We have not yet bridged the financial gap, but we are of the view that going out to consultation and aligning the community behind the proposal will create a credible prospect for finding additional finance.

"But it doesn't hide the reality that we are some £8-12m short of delivering the project." When the authority first proposed a Community Learning and Enterprise Centre (CLEC) to replace Trevethin and Abersychan secondary schools, it was estimated at £14m.

Parents were outraged at initial suggestions it could be a creationist school, teaching pupils that man lived alongside dinosaurs and the world was created in seven days. But with £2m from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the prospect of post-Corus grants of around £5million, it was all set to go ahead.

As the deal with the CBI fell through amid disagreements over the school's governing body and the age of pupils, the Corus package never materialised. The authority had to consider a massive loan through a new government borrowing scheme.

But it remained determined to proceed and at yesterday's meeting, councillors voted for public consultation and a promotional campaign to convince doubters the CLEC is the best option. Councillor John Turner, executive member for education, said: "We need to progress our quest for a new school."

However, placard-waving parents voiced their opposition to the new school outside the meeting. Anne Squires, 69, said: "Trev-ethin and Abersychan are fine as they are, but the council are telling us we are having this new school. We welcome the consultation, but I don't think it will mean anything. To my mind, it's all signed and sealed."