A DECISION on whether the National Assembly will support a new community school in Torfaen with £5 million of funding is expected in the next four weeks.

Torfaen borough council has earmarked £5 million towards the cost of the £14 million development.

The likely site of the 1,300-pupil school, which will replace Trevethin and Abersychan Comprehensives, is land near Riverside, Pontnewynydd.

A decision on whether the plan goes ahead will depend on if the National Assembly and the private sector come up with funding to bridge the gap.

Torfaen's director of education Mike de Val said: "We are looking at a contribution from theAssembly of £5 million. The signs are good that we will be able to bridge that gap."

He said a final answer from the assembly on funding was expected in the next four weeks.

"I expect some sort of positive indication in the near future as to whether we have the package together."

He is also meeting CBI chiefs to seek what he described as 'philanthropic money' from private sources.

A two-stage feasibility study costing around £100,000 will now start.

Stage one, costing up to £25,000 will examine legal issues regarding the site. Stage two, costing up to £75,000, will be a physical examination.

Funding for stage two has yet to be agreed.

Teachers' union leader Steve Spokes sounded a warning about future co-operation because of what he said was a lack of consultation between his union, the NASUWT, and the council in the plans.

"The unions were not brought into the consultation process at the start.

"We are now in a catch-up position. That is why they can't rely on our support," he said.

"If teachers are brought on board we will make this happen and it will be a success. "At the moment teachers have not been brought on board. The authorities have to put all their cards on the table."

He said the school must be non-selective, not include an exaggerated religious element in its teaching and teachers' pay and conditions should be protected.

He added that any compulsory redundancies could result in "industrial action across the county".