Bulldozers have already moved into Ysgol Clywedog

Wrexham Council needs to find the extra cash after the initial �12m set aside was ruled not enough - partly because officers failed to include the cost of inflation in their calculations.

In a meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to save nearly �250,000 by deleting plans to build a grass pitch at Ysgol Clywedog, floodlighting from both Rhosnesni High and Clywedog and leasing computer equipment.

Council assets will also be sold to find the extra revenue.

The cost of merging the three secondary schools and creating two new ones has risen to �15m.

Shan Wilkinson: Lessons need to be learnt

Local authority leader Shan Wilkinson said the price had risen largely due to inflation in construction and special educational needs for pupils.

The new schools, Ysgol Clywedog and Rhosnesni High, are both being extensively modernised.

Martin Jones, who has a son at Rhosnesni High School and is chairman of the temporary board of governors, said he is pleased the children's educational needs are still being taken care of.

"I'm quite happy that they're delivering their promises," he said.

"To be honest [the floodlighting] is something that could be done later without disrupting the children."

Vocational

Council leader Shan Wilkinson said she is confident that the schools will now make good progress.

"Clearly, lessons must be learnt from the problems that have arisen with this project for the benefit of future schemes," she said.

Under the new scheme, pupils from three schools - Bryn Offa, St David's and the Groves will merge into Ysgol Clywedog and Rhosnesni High.

The Groves school buildings will still be used until 2005, but it is now known as the Penymaes site.

The two new schools will place a larger emphasis on vocational courses.