Parents left in lurch after Prestatyn school fails to open

Sep 2 2008 By David Rutland

WORKING parents in Prestatyn have had to find extra childcare as the town’s state-of-the-art new primary school failed to open on time.

Ysgol Clawdd Offa, situated to the west of Ffordd Penrhwylfa is the first brand new school to be designed and built by Denbighshire County Council.

It was due to open last week along with the rest of the county’s schools, but ongoing problems mean that prospective pupils are still at home.

Parents were only told on Friday night about the decision and it is believed that a catalogue of work needs to be done before the building can finally open next Monday.

One parent told the Visitor, "We went to a meeting in the school last Wednesday and there were wires sticking out everywhere. The kitchen isn’t finished, so kids will have to bring their own lunch. The safety tarmac hasn’t been laid down in the playground yet and the paths are all dug up.

"Even the bike shed doesn’t have anywhere to put the bikes. It’s just a roof.

"Parents who have to work are going to have to extend their childcare and a lot of people are not going to be happy.

"At the meeting they said it was going to open on time, but there were still labourers working on the site at 7pm."

The school is an all-through primary for pupils aged between three and 11. It will eventually accommodate up to 420 students , but will open with a maximum number of 210 for the first two years.

Diggers and other heavy machines were seen on site at the weekend.

Julian Thompson Hill, chair of the governing body, said, "We are extremely disappointed and it is with regret that we have come to this decision, but it is important that we offer the best environment for pupils as they start their education at Ysgol Clawdd Offa."

The school was built as result of a 2007 partnership between Denbighshire County Council and building contractors, David McLean.