There’s a buzz in Monmouthshire as discussions heat up over empty school spaces in Chepstow and Monmouth. With over 200 empty primary school places in these areas, it’s clear something needs to change. A consultation has been scheduled to help determine the future of education in Chepstow, the only town in the county still waiting on a new comprehensive school building.
Labour and Green Party councillors are being urged to lay out a plan to tackle this surplus space issue. Recent claims even suggested the potential closure of Kymin View Primary School, but council insiders deny there are solid plans on the table. It’s becoming quite the heated debate between Labour and Conservative members, each demanding clarity and apologies from the other side.
Cllr Richard John is vocal about the necessity for action, highlighting that Monmouth schools are projected to have 432 surplus places, with some schools seeing vacancy rates as high as 38%. The situation in Chepstow isn’t much better, with around 250 empty seats in local primary schools.
One major hot topic is Chepstow’s ageing comprehensive school, which shares its location with a leisure centre, further complicating plans for a replacement. The deputy leader assures locals that discussions are ongoing, though a simple like-for-like replacement seems off the table for now.
Meanwhile, ideas are floating around to attract more families to Monmouthshire by enhancing the area’s educational reputation. Monmouth’s Ysgol Trefynwy has expansion needs that the council must plan for, while local representatives are pushing for Welsh-medium schools to remain a priority, rather than being sidelined in this overhaul.
It’s a complex situation, but one thing’s for sure: the future of education in Chepstow and Monmouth is top of mind, and community voices will be key in shaping the outcome. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops! 📚✏️🏫