Village school is closed amid new ‘Aberfan’ fear
A VILLAGE school in Wales has been closed indefinitely amid fears it is at risk of becoming ‘another Aberfan’.
Education chiefs ordered the immediate closure of Godre’r Graig Primary School, in Ystalyfera, near Swansea, after a geological survey revealed it was in danger from the hillside behind it.
The school is 25 miles from Aberfan, the village where 144 people died, including 116 children, when their school was buried under a coal tip in October 1966.
Councillor Rob Jones, leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said his ‘first thoughts’ after receiving the results of the survey were of Aberfan and protecting Godre’r Graig from a similar landslip.
He said officials had no option but to close the school immediately, a week before the summer holidays. The move meant the sports day, due to be held yesterday, was scrapped. Mr Jones said: ‘Anyone will draw comparisons to schools that have been involved in this type of disaster previously and the potential of a disaster taking place here, and that was my first thought. When we are talking about children in a school, even low risk to me is too high a risk.’ The hillside around the school is known as a ‘moving mountain’ by locals and there have been a series of landslides over the years, including one two years ago which caused a terrace of 11 homes to be permanently evacuated.
The area includes old quarry workings and small coal mines dating back more than 100 years.
A preliminary report by geologists was received by the council on Wednesday. It said heavy rain could potentially cause a landslide on to the Victorian school, which is surrounded by natural springs and ground water.
Further surveys could take up to nine months, but it is feared the school may never reopen.
Mother-of-two Tanya Rees said: ‘We had no idea these surveys were going on. I feel we should have been told earlier.
‘We feel very angry and let down – we’ve suddenly lost our school and with no idea where the children will go next year.’
One father said: ‘ This is very serious. We all knew the school is built on quarry waste but we had no idea it was so severe that our children might be at risk.’
Head Penny Argyle said arrangements would be made to relocate all pupils and staff to an alternative site ready for September.