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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Labour and Plaid fail to support Swansea school improvement programme
December 2, 2008 12:00 AM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed the extra money for Morriston Hospital and the Gowerton to Loughor Railway line in this morning's Assembly Government budget announcement but has expressed his regret at the low priority being given to improving school buildings.
Despite a survey two years ago finding a £749 million shortfall in the available resources for school buildings and what is needed, only £24 million of the £340 million announced today has been set aside for schools. None of that is going to Swansea. Furthermore, calls to bring forward capital spending so as to create jobs in a recession have been ignored. Over half of the cash announced today will be spent in 2010-2011, the year of the next Assembly election.
"This is particularly bad news for parents, teachers and pupils in Swansea who have suffered poor working conditions for many years," said Mr. Black. "The present administration have ambitious plans to put right decades of neglect by previous Labour councils but the £150 million bill is daunting and possibly unattainable in the time needed without Welsh Assembly Government help."
"The failure of Labour and Plaid Cymru to offer any more funding to Swansea Council for school buildings will delay important projects and leave a huge shortfall. The credit crunch means that the sale of assets to raise the cash is no longer a possibility in the short term whilst a below-inflation grant settlement means that the Council is struggling to maintain its present services never mind find new resources. Important as the improvement of Morriston Hospital and the Gowerton railway line are, the failure to invest in schools as well is short-sighted and regrettable."
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