Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar has hit out at today’s decision by Denbighshire County Council to close Ysgol Llanbedr, near Ruthin.
Darren, who has been campaigning alongside parents, pupils, staff and the Church in Wales to keep the rural school open, is disappointed that decision makers have failed to listen to the public.
At the end of October, Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet members rejected proposals to allow a public consultation on an alternative plan to federate the Ruthin school with Ysgol Trefnant.
The Cabinet’s decision will now be referred to Welsh Ministers for consideration.
At a meeting this morning they agreed to press ahead with the closure of the school.
Darren, who before Christmas presented the Council with two files of over 900 objections to the closure, said:
“I feared that this was going to be the outcome, but had hoped that the overwhelming views of the public would have secured a change of heart from the Council.
“The decision is yet another set back for all the parents, pupils and staff who have been tirelessly campaigning to save the school since the proposals regarding a possible closure were first mooted in 2013.
“But the fight for the school is not over yet. Welsh Ministers in Cardiff Bay will have the final say on the future of Ysgol Llanbedr and I’m hopeful that they will be persuaded by the strong arguments to keep the school open.”
Cllr Huw Williams, who represents Llanbedr DC on Denbighshire County Council said:
“Ysgol Llanbedr provides high quality education within the framework of a Christian ethos and it is a great shame that the pleas of local residents and councillors have not been sufficient to persuade Denbighshire to keep the school open.
“We are now calling on Welsh Ministers to do the right thing and keep the school open.”
Picture caption: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with Cllr Huw Williams at Ysgol Llanbedr