THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015
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9 News Accolades for Viv Stoddart ‘Catastrophic’ plans averted
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHAKE-UP • SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHAKE-UP • SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHAKE-UP EVEN THOUGH she took no
part in Thursday’s (Jan 29) debate on the education shakeup, other than to declare a personal interest relating to her daughter’s employment at Pembrokeshire College, today’s debate was a personal triumph for Hubberston representative Cllr Viv Stoddart.
It was she who brought forward
the crucial amendment that meant that debates about the future of the county’s schools would be held in public with all councillors taking part, instead of in Cabinet where deals could be sorted
out behind closed doors and before any public meeting took place.
First to sing her praises was Plaid Cymru group leader Michael Williams, who invited members of the public and members of the council to recognise her contribution to making the decision-making process more transparent. Cllr Jacob Williams, when called upon to speak, made the same point and commended Viv Stoddart’s determination and insight that made sure that such an important debate was open to the public and subject to direct scrutiny by them.
PLANS to close Ysgol Dewi Sant
were met with fury in the cathedral city.
Jamie
Speaking to The Herald before Adams’
remarkable and
unheralded change of mind, he said: “I am absolutely devastated. There are very few reversals in my life I can think of worse than this.” Speaking to The Herald after the debate, Cllr Lloyd was, however, gracious and refused to question how and why the council had changed its mind on the proposals for Ysgol Dewi Sant: “When I spoke with you before this meeting, I said that I was reminded of the words of DW James – a revered headmaster of YDS and author - describing how one thousand years of Cathedral history can be counted out in evensongs. Those evensongs are sung by the pupils of Ysgol Dewi Sant. With those children dispersed around the county that would have ended. That is what this Council would have ended. It would have thrown one thousand years of culture and heritage out of the window. It would have been a catastrophe.” He gave a relieved smile: “I will take away this result today. While I note
what has been said about sixth form education, I am not convinced it is an end of the matter by any means. There is a public consultation coming and people will be able to again give voice to their views about the future of Ysgol Dewi Sant. But, for now, I am relieved and delighted.”
Paying tribute to the contribution of his electors, Cllr Lloyd concluded: “Their presence here today was
hugely important. They sent wonderful eloquent emails, attended today in their scores, if not their hundreds; the community showed County Hall just how important YDS is to our community, what it means and what it stands for. The school community has worked so hard to address the challenges of the past and move on. I am pleased we now have a future to which we can all look forward.”
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