Godre'r Graig Primary School will be demolished 5 years after its closure due to fear of landslide

In July 2019, the closure of Godre'r Graig Primary School near Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, was prompted by concerns regarding a potential landslide from an old quarry tip. Up to this day, the students are being taught in temporary cabins that are located three miles away.

The council's examination for potential solutions exposed the financial and practical obstacles to decrease the risk of landslide. Due to their decision to reject some alternatives, e.g. the option of eliminating the quarry spoil tip, which would cost nearly £6m, or the option of constructing a retaining structure, led them to the decision to demolish the building.

As the council proceeds with plans for a £17 million replacement school at a different site providing 210 full-time and 30 part-time nursery places and proceeds with the demolition, the community's dissatisfaction over the absence of a permanent and satisfactory solution has become crucial. This scenario underscores the complicated balance between financial judgment, public welfare, and community sentiment.

In anticipation of the demolition, the determination of Godre'r Graig's residents and parents has only intensified. Their recommendation is to remove the landslide hazard rather than the school itself. They point out that they need to consider their priorities within the community and to manage the complex aspects of safety, heritage, and advancement.