PARENTS are calling on Gwent councils and the Welsh Government to provide a date when details will be released over the future of Welshmedium secondary provision in south-east Wales.

Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool is Gwent’s only Welsh-medium secondary school which accepts pupils from different counties.

But it is projected to be oversubscribed by 2017 and a consortium of Gwent councils is in talks with Welsh Government over howto proceed.

Rhiannon North, from Caerleon, whose sons are aged three and seven, wants to keep her children in Welsh-medium education but fears if plans are not announced soon the whole issue will be put on hold.

“When I first moved to Newport everybody said they were going to be building another Welsh-medium high school,” said Mrs North, 37.

“There are talks going on between Welsh Government and councillors but councillors need to take action, they have been slow.

“I want a decision guaranteed by a certain date, otherwise it’ll be on the back burner.”

Any new Welsh-medium secondary school needs to be in Newport, she said.

“It is insane we don’t have one in a city like Newport,” said Mrs North. “Parents want something to happen.”

Amanda Bowen-Downes, from Newport, who has one child going up to high school this year and two younger children, said that even if a date was given on which proposals would be put forward, she would want to know details. “I would want to see a timetable of events,” said Mrs Bowen-Downes, 42.

“They have got to provide us with Welsh-medium education at secondary level, we know that. What we need to know is what is Newport council going to put in place and when.”

A spokeswoman for the South East Wales Consortium said its partners continue to work in consultation with the Welsh Government and a “full option appraisal” is being developed with specialist advisers. Any expansion plans will be subject to full public consultation.

A Welsh Government spokesman said it is a matter for local authorities to identify how they will provide sufficient and appropriate places for children whose parents or carers desire them to have Welsh-medium education.