A local Senedd member has welcomed the High Court’s decision that Neath Port Talbot Council’s ‘super school’ project in Pontardawe was unlawful.

South Wales West MS Sioned Williams has welcomed the decision of the High Court, arguing it will help protect and develop the Welsh language.

The project would have seen three schools (Alltwen, Llangiwg and Godre'r Graig) closed down in 2024, with the one super school replacing them, holding around 770 pupils.

However, the High Court in Cardiff decided that the council had failed to assess the impact of the project on Welsh-medium schools in the Swansea Valley area.

The decision means that the £22.7m project is not able to go ahead as previously planned.

The judgment was made after a request for a judicial review by Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg (Parents for Welsh-medium Education) which promotes the use of Welsh-medium education.

A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot Council said after the decision: “The council notes the judgement of the Administrative Court. Consideration will now be given to its content to determine next steps.”

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Sioned Williams MS said about the High Court’s ruling: "This is good news for the Swansea Valley in terms of protecting and developing the Welsh language locally and in terms of underlining the erroneous nature of the consultation that was carried out on the plans to reorganise English-medium schools.

“I would like to thank Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg, who succeeded in challenging the Council's decision to open the new school, as the statutory consultation and subsequent decision did not comply with the Welsh Government's School Organisation Code.

“I had constantly raised this matter with the previous Council and with the Welsh Government and am therefore very proud of the High Court's decision.

"We now need a new consultation on alternative options in terms of reorganising schools in the Swansea Valley and an assurance from the Welsh Government that the funding earmarked for the scheme, which was delayed due to these concerns, will be available to the Council for the other possible options."