Interview with Helen Mary Jones

An interview with Plaid Cymru's Helen Mary Jones talking about small school closures in Carmarthenshire

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
On that point, then let's look at the closures, the
small school closures which have been proposed and consultations are
being going ahead despite the protest from the communities those
counselors serve. Eminent Doll has launched a video recently on
kindness and he actually called it the council were offering
corporate kindness. That's not how the people of Bliner and
mande Ghag see it. Will you be lending your support

(00:21):
to stop these small school closures, or at least to
commission a serious study into the potential for small schools
and the impact their loss would have on small communities.
Applied our shouting continually about saving the language, the terrible
treatment of Wales throughout history since the Union, and yet
here you are pleading for independence on the same ticket,

(00:41):
yet killing the birthplace of the language in a place
which epitomizes that history here in Manydegaig. Why is that happening?

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, let me talk about none of the Gareg, because
I don't know about the situation in Plin there. I've
been talking to the people who are campaigning to keep
the school open, and a couple of things I've done already.
I've asked the Welsh ministers whether they think it's right
for consultations to be ongoing anywhere because they're happening in
Powis in other parts of the region, I represent as well,

(01:11):
should those be going ahead when people can't get together,
when they can't talk, when they can't have those communications.
I think it's not correct that the Welsh Government will
not give county councils money to refurbish old schools, but
they will give them money to build new ones. And
that's part of the challenge with you know that. I
understand where the council's coming from and wanting to build

(01:34):
a world class twenty first century school in Kidwelly. What
I don't understand is why the Welsh Government won't also
fund appropriate refurbishment programs if the consultations do proceed. I'm
determined to make sure that the people in the community
and none of the gag get every opportunity to have
their voice heard. I've already arranged for them to speak

(01:56):
to the Cabinet member with responsibility for education directly, and
they're going to do that soon. I think in some
ways what we're facing here Alan is a law of
unintended consequences. You know, it's a good thing that the
Welsh Government wants to invest in new schools, but in
terms of our smallest communities, they need to be investing
in refurbishment as well. I think it's right that the

(02:17):
County Council wants to have the children. I'm out of
some of those buildings. We know the state of the
building in askolguin Lea, and I think i'd argue when
I was last there that none of the Garagh isn't
quite as bad. But it's still not an environment you'd
want the children educated in. But the council shouldn't be
put in a position where their only option is to centralize.
I've got some concerns about children traveling to school. You know,

(02:40):
we talk a lot about active travel and wanting children
to be able to walk to school. Well, wherever you
put the new school children from none of the Garagh
are unlikely to be able to walk there. I don't
think so. I think there are lots of questions to
be asked. I don't doubt anybody's motives here. I am
concerned about the timing because, as I say, I don't
you know this. Normally you would be having public meetings

(03:02):
the community. Those in the community who don't want this
change would be knocking on the doors. And I'll do
whatever I can to support the community getting getting and
getting a fair voice. But I'm not doing that in
the concept of trying to demonize the local authority, because
they're also stuck between a rock and a hard place
on this.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
It is a very emmotive issue. And we know that
Ray Gravell and his family went there. Ray campaign to
save the school and he was successful to a certain extent.
You know, he staved that closure up until now. It
is very motive.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
Again, are you worried that, you know, should the school clause?
I know you don't to politicize it and you don't
demonize the authority. But essentially that is what happens is
that's the nature of the beast. People will say that's
play Canrie, that's the administration they did although labor began,
we know the history of labor and small school closures.
But are you worried that that that will impact you

(03:53):
on you again come the same elections.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
Well we can't tell, can we. I Mean, all I
can hope is that if I do what I believe
is right and if I listen properly to the community
and ensure that their voices get heard. If I can
do that in such a way as to explain as
well the position that the county is in. If at
the same time I can try and ensure that the

(04:17):
next Welsh government, whoever forms it, will invest in older
school buildings, so that, for example, you could invest in
a school like Man of the Garag and ensure that
you had facilities that were suitable for three to four
year old which would enable more children to come in.
You know, I think sometimes in politics and you've got
to do what you think is right, and there will

(04:39):
be people who won't be happy with that. You know.
I feel that I was very fond of Ray, and
Ray was lovely to me and a big plied supporter,
and I would like us to be able to keep
every single village school open if we could. Well, the
resources have got to be there for that and the children.
They've got to think about the the quality of the

(05:00):
education that's provided for the children. There are questions too
to be asked about why the federalizing of the two
schools didn't formally go ahead, because that might have helped.
So I will try to make sure that I do
what is fair and right and get the community's voice heard.
I suppose that's what I always try to do, and
I hope people will see that. But in public life,

(05:23):
if all we do is chase the votes, we can
create some really difficult situations, and I don't in the
end think that people respect you more for that.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
Hell and Mary John's thank you very much for speaking
to Clanettie online. Thank you, Jo, thank you very much.