People’s Turf Cutting Ceremony Held To Mark Building Of New Gwersyllt Welsh School

Supporters of a new Welsh school on Delamere Avenue in Gwersyllt gathered at the site yesterday afternoon to mark the start of building work with a “people’s” turf cutting ceremony.

35 parents and children attended the alternative ceremony, which was arranged after campaigners said they were not invited to the official turf cutting ceremony which was also due to be held yesterday.

The official council ceremony was postponed earlier this week as the authority said governors who were due to attend it were not available on that day. A council spokesperson said it would be rearranged for a later date.

Councillor Arfon Jones for Gwersyllt West, who was the only Gwersyllt councillor not to be invited, said: “This is a celebration by those people who actually campaigned long and hard to realize their dream of a new Welsh school in their community. We have decided to have what we call a ‘people’s’ turf-cutting ceremony to recognise the achievement of making this new school a reality.

He added: “I really don’t want to comment on the council leaderships’ u-turn, I would rather focus on the positives of having a new school, but saying that the council’s role in all this has been a PR disaster and they need to learn the lessons on how to manage events in an inclusive and sensitive way.”

Speaking to Wrexham.com last week Leader of the Council Neil Rogers said that Cllr Jones was not the local member for the school and that he was following “protocol”.

He said: “The people that have been invited are the two local members for the school from Gwersyllt East and South, the person with responsibility for children’s services, Cllr Mike Williams, myself as leader and the deputy leader Cllr Mark Pritchard.

Of Councillor Jones not being invited he said: “That councillor is not the local member, if he was the local member he would have been invited. For example with the Western Gateway sod cutting last month Cllr Phil Wynn was invited as he is the local member and when we have the official opening ceremony such as the industrial estate link road opening then all members are invited.

“That’s been the protocol for several years.”

Picture by Phil Rees