CAERPHILLY council have given the go-ahead for an English medium school in Waterloo, Machen.

At a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday, it was decided to go ahead with the original plans, as opposed to proposals put forward by Plaid Cymru for a Welsh school at the site.

In July, Plaid Cymru suffered a blow when Independent and Labour councillors voted together supporting a motion to get an English school built at the old Cray Valley Product site.

Councillors voted for a motion to refer the matter back to cabinet to reconsider their decision and revert back to the original plan of establishing an English medium school at the site.

At a full council meeting, the motion went through with 37 votes for and 33 against.

The original proposal for the English school came from the previous Labour administration, but alternative plans were put forward after Plaid Cymru took control of the council in May.

Cefn Fforest Independent councillor Graham Simmonds said he was "more than pleased," with the decision.

He added: "I think, faced with the possibility of losing control of the council, the cabinet decided to do the right thing by the youngsters, who are after all the future of Caerphilly borough."

A special meeting was held in May when councillors discussed the form the school would take and the possibility of transferring Rudry school to the site.

It is hoped the new school will be up and running by September 2010 and Rudry will be closed and the pupils moved to Waterloo.

Leader of council Lindsay Whittle said everything was done to try and save Rudry school, but the wishes of the full council were respected.

"We will now strive to improve conditions at Rudry Primary over the next few years as the Waterloo development proceeds to ensure pupils receive the highest level of education possible," he said.

A report will now be prepared looking at the process for developing the school.