The Children's Commissioner for Wales has stepped in to try to block plans for two new schools on former waste tip sites because of safety concerns.

Peter Clarke has said prospective schools in Conwy and Newport should not be built on the ex-landfill sites because current scientific evidence was limited.

Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke

Mr Clarke, who was appointed earlier this year to protect the rights of children, said it could not be guaranteed that a new comprehensive near Llandudno and a replacement primary school at a site in Newport would be safe.

It follows government research which, in August, found a slighter higher risk of birth defects in children living within 2km of landfill sites.

The plan in north Wales is to move the existing Ysgol John Bright school near Llandudno, in order to sell the site to a supermarket chain as part of a private finance initiative.

Controversial plans

Conwy County Council wants to erect new buildings nearby, partly on a former waste dump.

The plans for Durham Road School on the Glebelands playing fields in Newport are less advanced, while outline planning permission has already been granted.

Landfill sites have come under scrutiny in recent years

At a public meeting in the area, parents voiced their concern over the plans shortly after the publication of the government research on landfills in the British Medical Journal.

Children's rights group Rebecca - Children's Right to a Safe Environment - called on the Welsh Assembly for Wales to scrap the plan.

It claimed a full risk assessment was not carried out on the proposals.

The intervention of Mr Clarke is one of his most prominent cases since his appointment .

After looking at the plans for both sites and consulting with the local authorities, he accepted that new school buildings were desirable.

But he urged the councils to pursue other avenues.

Friends of the Earth Cymru has welcomed the commissioner's caution.

Played down

However, the Welsh Local Government Association, which represents the interests of Welsh local authorities, played down the warnings.

Councillor Goronwy Parry, the association's deputy education spokesman, said: "The health and safety of our children is of the highest priority.

"Wales has some of the oldest school building stock in Britain and it is a priority of both local government and the National Assembly to improve and build new school buildings.

"The public can rest assured that any new school building will be built only following thorough public consultation, rigorous testing and compliance with all necessary statutory requirements."

He said it would be "a pity" if the commissioner's comments resulted in unfounded apprehension over proper analysis.

Coun Parry said there was a balance to be struck between the small possibility of health impacts and improving the educational environment for children.