Former councillor to restand due to local nursery

A former Labour councillor has been compelled to put herself forward to stand for election due to her anger at the way the local authority has dealt with a nursery school near her home.

The council has proposed Grangetown Nursery merge with Grangetown Primary, even though the sites of the two schools will remain ten minutes apart. The parents, staff and governors have been told repeatedly consultation on the issue will be carried out, but have been left in limbo for more than two years.

Lynda Thorne, who is chair of governors at the nursery lost her seat as a Grangetown councillor in 2004, but has now been shortlisted by the Labour party to stand again in the 2012 local elections. She said: "It was the nursery thing that really tipped the balance. I care enough about Grangetown to stand."

Ms Thorne said: "Neither governing body believes this is a good proposal for our schools."

Ms Thorne began to understand the politics behind the proposal when she saw a report presented to a sub committee. She said: "When we read the report what it says is the ideal for the whole of Cardiff is to go from 3 - 11 years old in the same school and there will be more funding, but extra money does not necessarily mean a better education."

If the plan went ahead there would be a senior teacher on each site, instead of a head teacher and the nursery would have no presence on the board of governors. Ms Thorne said: "I feel angry that we are powerless to do anything. The parents have had three letters now and nothing has happened."

Ms Thorne sees putting herself up as a candidate as the only way to change things: "I have always thought about it but because I have stood before and think should I really do it again?"

She does however remain optimistic: "We only have to persuade 51 people to vote a different way. I think people are disenchanted with the coalition. We weren’t far off last time and we are increasingly certain we can do it this time. I just hope I am one of the candidates."