South Wales Evening Post - 23 November 2006
The Children's Commissioner for Wales could step into the controversial row over plans for a Swansea care home.
Swansea Council wants to move the children's home in West Cross to a new base in Milford Way, in Blaenymaes.
The authority wants to build a new Welsh medium primary school at the site in West Cross Avenue.
But the proposals have sparked a row among residents and councillors.
Peter Clarke, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, also has his concerns over the proposal.
He has written to Swansea Council's chief executive Paul Smith to raise the matter with him.
Mr Clarke has not ruled out taking further action over the matter.
His role as a Welsh children's champion was created in 2001 with a remit to look after children's and young people's interests.
He has statutory powers to demand information from people and organisations and can make representations to the Assembly.
Labour councillors have already entered a challenge to the plans to relocate the care home.
They want the council's presiding officer, Lib-Dem councillor Susan Waller, to send the decision to the challenge panel for a review.
They claim the council failed to meet its own criteria when searching for a new site for the children's home and failed to consult with the children at the home.
The call-in request is now being considered.Residents have also raised concerns about the plans, with 227 residents signing a petition against the move.
A spokeswoman for the Children's Commissioner confirmed that he was looking at the case.
She said: "Mr Clarke has written to Swansea Council's chief executive, he is particularly concerned about the level of consultation with the children involved.
"He is waiting to consider whether he wants to take any further action or become involved."
Swansea Labour group leader David Phillips said he had raised the issue with the commissioner.
He said: "Given the number of representations made to me, I believed it was necessary to make these concerns known to Mr Clarke."
