PARENTS, teachers and pupils are celebrating after an unpopular decision to refuse planning permission for a Welsh-language secondary school in Newport was overturned.

In February Newport City Council’s planning committee threw out the application for the school at the site of Duffryn High in Lighthouse Road after Natural Resources Wales raised concerns around the possibility the site could flood – despite there have been no flooding in the area since 1607.

But following a furious reaction from parents, pupils, teachers and language campaigners, the plans were given a second chance and were considered by the full council today where they were granted by an overwhelming majority.

Speaking at today’s meeting, council planning officer Stephen Williams said the application failed a number of tests around flood safety.

But, when asked how accurate Natural Resources Wales’ assessments were, he said: "It's all we've got to go on. It's been produced by qualified engineers. How accurate, I wouldn't want to comment."

Council members were almost unanimous in their support for the plans, with many saying the design of the new school buildings would in fact make them the safest place in the area if flooding was to occur.

Moving to grant the application, Cllr Gail Giles said: "These buildings will ensure all pupils and staff are safe in all flood conditions.

“I repeat – all flood conditions.”

And Cllr Mark Whitcutt said: "There are children already on site, many children.

“And here we have a proposal to build buildings and improve the school which will make the existing school much, much better.

"What message will this council be sending out tonight if it refuses this badly needed development?"

Members voted 25 to three, with one abstention, to approve the application, to jubilation from the public gallery in the packed Civic Centre.

The plans also include a new classroom block and refurbishment for Duffryn High, to be renamed The John Frost School this September, as well as five sports courts and a 3G pitch.

Speaking after the decision headteacher-elect of the new Welsh school, to be named Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed, Rhian Dafydd said “I am delighted not only for Welsh medium education in Newport but also for the pupils of John Frost.”

Newly-elected Newport Council leader Cllr Debbie Wilcox also welcomed the news, saying: “After a thorough and detailed process I am delighted that we will now be able to offer Welsh medium secondary education within the city.

“Well done, da iwan, to all who have worked on this.

“The approval today also means that improvement works on Duffryn High School will be completed giving pupils there a better environment in which to pursue their education.”

Every local authority in Wales is legally required to provide Welsh-language education, but there is no such provision in Newport, and about 390 pupils are driven to Torfaen every day, costing the taxpayer about £286,650 every year.

Pupils have already been accepted to start at the new school in the forthcoming academic year, but will have to share space at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon in Brynglas Drive until the building is completed, expected to be summer 2018.