AN Abergavenny mother has called for a special needs unit to be included in the new primary school to be built on the Llwynu Infants School site.

Last Wednesday education minister Jane Davidson announced that she had agreed with Monmouthshire County Council's plans to build a new 420-place primary school on the site and close Croesonen Infants School.

Now Sara Chicken, whose seven year old daughter Emily used to attend Llwynu Infants School, has called for a special needs unit to cater for children with complex needs who live in the north of the county.

Since the start of the new school year Emily, who has been diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, has been attending the unit at Overmonnow Primary School, Monmouth.

Mrs Chicken said: "The staff there are lovely, but why should small children like Emily have to travel that far."

Mrs Chicken has written to Monmouthshire's head of schools Malcolm Morris asking if provision can be made in the new school for a special unit.

Mrs Chicken added: "I know of at least 11 children with special needs. I'm sure there are others in the area and would like their parents to write to me and my husband Neil at 50, Western Road, Abergavenny so we can co-ordinate our consultation with the LEA."

Malcolm Morris said: "The plan is to dispense with the learning unit at Harold Road Junior School and include it in the brand new primary school, but we can't say what the unit will provide until we've completed our consultation."

There was huge disappointment when news of the closure of Croesonen Infants School by September 2005 was announced.

Parent Sarah Francis said they were all bitterly disappointed they had lost their fight to keep open the school.

She added: "But the best thing is to look forward because we all want the best education for our children and we want a smooth transition to the new school."

Ms Davidson has delayed her decision on the county's proposals to close Park Street Infants School and remodel Harold Road Junior School into a 210 pupil primary school.

She wants more information from the LEA and wants them to share their plans with all interested parties.

A spokesman for Park Street governors said they were consulting their legal team about the next move because the minister's decision had not taken account of their application to change the school status to a Church In Wales voluntary aided school.