A FORMER school governor warned a proposal for opencast mining and land reclamation at Varteg, near Pontypool, could threaten the school’s future.

The Reverend Priscilla Pearson told a public inquiry into Torfaen council’s rejection of the plans by Glamorgan Power Company that job loss and a fall in pupil numbers at Welsh primary school Ysgol Bryn Onnen is a “very real threat” if the Welsh Government appointed inspector Clive Nield recommends approval.

Reverend Pearson, a governor at the school until last year, said: “It is a real threat (to the school) because the proposed site is just 79 metres away.

“Parents are extremely concerned and one dad has said he will withdraw his child from the school if it goes ahead.

“It could result in redundancies because of falling numbers.

“If 100 children were to leave, it could make it difficult for the LEA to manage,” she said.

Reverend Pearson said the children’s health and wellbeing is paramount and that the foundation phase pupils, who must spend more than three hours a day learning outside, would be affected as well as their use of a quiet area, yard and playing field because of dust and noise from the operation.

She said exposing the children to such noise could affect their speech perception and reading acquisition, which is vital for learning the Welsh language, both indoors and outside.

Yvonne Balakrishnan, a serving governor, said: “You might be able to soundproof the demountable classrooms but you can’t soundproof outside.

“We have an ideal setting here, with no drawbacks to learning.

“The school remains opposed to the scheme.”

Proceeding.