The High Court has labelled Neath Port Talbot Council’s plans to build a new English-medium ‘super school’ in Pontardawe as unlawful.
The council officers in June proclaimed it would be the best option to merge three of the area’s schools (Alltwen, Llangiwg and Godre'r Graig) to build the super school for around 770 pupils.
However, the High Court in Cardiff decided that the decision to go forward with the school is unlawful.
The judgment follows a request for a judicial review by Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg (parents for Welsh-medium education), which promotes education about and in the Welsh language.
The organisation argued the project went against the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code.
The decision was made by the High Court that the local authority had failed to assess the impact of the super school’s opening on Welsh-medium education in the region.
During the case, Mr Justice Kerr said that the council had misinterpreted the School Organisation Code, by not regarding the local Welsh-language schools.
Since the decision has been made, the £22.7m project will not be able to go ahead as planned.
The project at Parc Ynysderw would have been a campus-style development including Pontardawe Leisure Centre, with a 25m swimming pool with six lanes.
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Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg manager Elin Maher said: "The lack of recognition of the significant threat to Welsh language education in the Pontardawe area as a result of the council's failings forced us to, reluctantly, intervene.
"Especially as the council themselves recognise that the area is one of significant linguistic importance in regard to the Welsh language.
"We hope that local authorities review this judgment carefully and appreciate the importance of undertaking thorough linguistic impact assessments."
Initially, the proposal was approved almost exactly a year ago. However, not all councillors supported the idea.
Cllr Alun Llewelyn asked where the other children were going to come from, as the three schools combined only held 530 children.
Meanwhile, Cllr Steve Hunt argued the Welsh government’s 21st Century Schools Programme looked at improving current schools, rather than closing them and delivering new ones.
A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesperson said: “The council notes the judgement of the Administrative Court. Consideration will now be given to its content to determine next steps.”
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