School dinner debts cost Denbighshire Council �12,000

The north Wales authority has taken the steps to reduce the levels of school meal debts, currently standing at �12,000.

When the new term starts in September, parents who fail to pay for the meals will be sent a letter, along with advice about free school meal entitlement and the Welfare Rights Benefit helpline number.

"We don't want to stop any child from having a school meal," said Councillor Rhiannon Hughes.

"What we are aiming to do is to make parents and guardians aware that there is a problem, for whatever reason, and give them every opportunity to put things right.

Debts tackled

"It could be that the child has lost the money or is being bullied, by taking action very early on we can hopefully quickly spot potential problem areas and tackle the problem before it escalates."

However, a written statement form the council said parents do run the risk of their children not being provided with a meal at school if the debt continues.

Councillor Hughes also claims there has been a "noticeable increase" in incidents of school staff being challenged by parents when tackled about the debts.

Between 2002 and 2003 school meal debts in Denbighshire's primary schools reached �12,000.

Local produce

The new policy has been supported by Denbighshire's Headteacher' Federation and parents will receive a letter telling them of the changes.

Last month parents lobbied the local authority to try and get them to use local produce in their canteens.

Parents of children at Ysgol Gynradd Betws Gwerful Goch near Corwen, have succeeded in their fight to get healthier options on the menu.

However, they want to take their fight a step further and are pushing for the local authority to buy their produce locally.

Denbighshire County Council Leader Eryl Williams said the authority has taken parents' concerns seriously.