PROPOSALS to build three new Welsh-medium primary schools in the Caerphilly county borough were rejected by the National Assembly.

Caerphilly council published proposals to establish the schools on the former site of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Aberbargoed, at the former site of Penallta Colliery in Ystrad Mynach, and on the former site of Trinant Infants.

But Jane Davidson, minister for education and lifelong learning, has rejected the statutory proposals - mainly because of "flaws in the consultation process".

A letter to the council states: "She (Ms Davidson) considers that the consultation did not adequately involve all interested parties.

"Moreover, in setting out the need for the three proposed new schools, the LEA made an error in their statistics.

"That error undermined both the validity of the consultation process and the justification for the three new schools."

According to corrected figures, provided by the council, if the number of pupils seeking to enter Welsh medium education grows at the forecast rate of 13 per cent over the next five years, then there would be an overall shortfall of 41 places in the county borough by 2008.

The Assembly says that, to fill 560 new school places in the three new schools, there would have be an increase of 33 per cent rather than 13 per cent in the take-up of Welsh medium education.

"Bearing in mind that the total primary school population in Caerphilly is due to decrease by three to four per cent over the same period, the minister considers that the authority has not demonstrated that such a dramatic increase in demand is likely to be generated," the letter from the Assembly says.

It goes on: "In view of the far-reaching implications of the proposals, she considers that it would have been appropriate and more in accordance with best practice for the authority to have held public consultation meetings in the areas affected by the three proposals."

Councillor Phil Bevan, cabinet member for education, said: "We are extremely disappointed that the minister has decided not to approve the authority's constructive proposals for the development of Welsh medium primary education in the county borough.

"The proposals were well thought-out and based on an undeniable increase in demand in the coming years.

"Without the agreement of these proposals, the council will not be able to offer all children who receive Welsh medium education the facilities they deserve."