A WAR of words has broken out over fears that Pembrokeshire’s school buildings could be left in disrepair following the recent funding settlement to councils.

The figure set aside for school repairs has been cut from £99m to £65m. County AM Paul Davies said the money “won’t even be able to scratch the surface” of repairs and renovations needed.

Mr Davies added: “It is not right that our children and teachers have to work in substandard conditions.”

But Labour MP Nick Ainger and Labour council leader Sue Perkins attacked Mr Davies’ comments.

Councillor Perkins said: “Mr Davies should be aware of many recent investments to improve school buildings across the county. It simply isn’t true to suggest that children and teachers — in this county at least — will be working in sub-standard conditions.”

Mr Ainger added: “Pembrokeshire has an extremely good record in repairing and building new schools. Record investment from the Labour-led Welsh Assembly has simply been ignored by Mr Davies. “Clearly there will be tighter budgets as we move forward, but schools in my constituency are in a very good condition and nothing like the mess they were in when the Tories left power.

“It’s a bit rich that a Tory AM is complaining about budget cuts when their policy is to slash public expenditure and create David Cameron’s age of austerity.”