Safety fears over new school site

Peter Clarke, (pictured) the first children's commissioner in Britain, has been considering Newport council's controversial proposals to replace Durham Road School with a new building on a former landfill site at the Glebelands.

The scheme was brought to his attention by parents and local protesters who believe the school should be built elsewhere.

But following the publication of a new scientific study which found a link between landfill sites and birth defects he said: "This report has rekindled my interest in the case.

While he accepts the council's commitment to clean up the site to the highest scientific standards he is uneasy about the scientific knowledge that work would be based on.

"I've not yet reached a full conclusion," he told the Argus. "I know the council are intent on doing the highest level of remediation, but I was left with a degree of unease about it and I was thinking of suggesting some form of health monitoring if it goes ahead.

"The publication of the new report last week has re-opened the issue and I will be discussing it with senior officials. While the council are insisting on the highest standards based on our current knowledge, I have concerns about that knowledge."

Mr Clarke said he intends to talk to experts in the fields of health, environment and education, including Wales' chief medical officer Dr Ruth Hall in the next few days. Brian Adcock, strategic director of Newport council, pointed out that £1.3 million has been set aside to clean up the site and monitor it subsequently.

He said: "The health and safety of children and staff is paramount in the development of the new school and Newport council would never allow the schools to be built on a site which would be unsafe."

The Durham Road proposal is not the only one attracting Mr Clarke's attention. A development being put forward in Llandudno by Conwy council has similar issues according to the commissioner.