Fury at ruling over 'toxic' school sites

City residents who oppose plans to build a new school on the Glebelands former landfill site say they are disappointed by the lack of action by children's commissioner for Wales, Peter Clarke.

He announced on Friday that although did not support the proposals he would not got to court to stop them.

John Martin, chairman of the Glebelands action group, said: "I am very disappointed by Mr Clarke's decision. I can't think why he's decided not to take legal action as he has always been very suspicious of claims that the proposed sites are safe.

"Having said that, I don't know why the National Assembly appointed him in the first place - he has no power to do anything."

Mr Martin said the children's commissioner and the action group had looked carefully at the original Sashu report into the safety of the Glebelands site - and believe the research shows "very real dangers in terms of toxins present".

He added: "The Assembly has now appointed so-called independent consultants, who have rubbished that report.

"We have serious concerns and the authorities have refused to consult us. No information has been volunteered to us but what we have managed to obtain has shown that this site is potentially very dangerous."

The campaigners are now demanding that a firm of American poison experts look at the site of the proposed new Durham Road School.

The chief medical officer for Wales called in the US health watchdog to look at links between poor health and landfill sites in the Rhondda Valleys.

Now Newport parents want them to examine the Glebelands site, which is known to be contaminated with heavy metals and toxic chemicals.

Newport council plans to build replacements for the Durham Road schools on the Glebelands site.

City planners have already granted planning permission for the scheme.

The council insists that it has done a lot of work to clean up the site and that the land will be safe before construction starts.