THE decision not to hold a public meeting on the proposed closure of a Powys primary school has been condemned by a prospective new Senedd candidate. Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate Alison Alexander says a decision not to hold a public meeting on Churchstoke County Primary School’s prospective closure damages confidence in Powys County Council. In an open letter to the education portfolio holder Phyl Davies, a member of the Conservatives, Ms Alexander states poor communication on school closure consultations has already damaged confidence and the refusal to hold a public meeting on the future of Churchstoke risks entrenching this lack of trust even further.
Montgomeryshire Senedd candidate Russell George has said there is a strong case for keeping Churchstoke s school open, and raised concerns over holding a consultation into its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Conservative politician, who holds the Montgomeryshire seat in the Senedd going into next month s election, was speaking while on the campaign trail with former Conservative leader William Hague in Welshpool on Tuesday. Churchstoke is one of a number of rural schools in Powys which are in line for closure. Local parents have launched a petition aimed at saving the school from closure, with more than 1,400 people having signed so far.
CONSULTATION on plans to create a new primary school in Powys by merging three existing schools has begun, the county council has said. Powys County Council (PCC) is proposing to merge Mount Streets Infants School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc County Primary School in Brecon to create a new super primary school as part of transforming education plans for the Brecon catchment area. The council’s cabinet gave the go-ahead last December to start formal consultation on the plans. Now the council is asking for views from the public on the proposals, which it says would improve the education entitlement and experience for future learners.