REPRIEVE FOR TWO SCHOOLS
Council agrees new consultation over closure threats:
TWO under-threat primary schools have been given a stay of execution by council officials.
Anglesey Council’s Executive was expected to rubber-stamp the closures of both Ysgol Beaumaris and Ysgol Talwrn.
But in a twist, the education portfolio holder asked for a delay until new consultations are carried out in both areas – a process that’s expected to take several months.
The plans to close the schools have been fiercely opposed in both areas, with a small demonstration held outside the council headquarters.
However, some councillors have questioned the decision to consult for a third time on the closure of Ysgol Talwrn, which officers have blamed on an administrative technicality.
Ysgol Talwrn has 43 pupils, close to its capacity of 49, but was expected to shut and its pupils moved to an extended Ysgol y Graig in nearby Llangefni. But the authority’s monitoring officer had recommended a further public consultation should take place as the consultation report had not been published within 13 weeks of the previous consultation ending.
In response, Cllr Bryan Owen, leader of the Annibynwyr Môn opposi- tion group, said: “There’s something not right if we have to go out for the third time and consult in the Llangefni area once again.
“This can’t be fair on staff and parents in not knowing what’s happening next.”
Education chief, Cllr Meirion Jones, asked members to delay any decision on Ysgol Beaumaris to give local campaigners the chance to outline alternative proposals to keep the school open. The town’s school has 50 pupils on the books but a capacity of 160, with the authority expected to ask parents to instead send their children to Ysgol Llandegfan or Ysgol Llangoed. Cllr Jones confirmed, however, that the new consultation would also look at shutting Ysgol Llangoed, as an alternative to the town of Beaumaris losing its only school.
Cllr Lewis Davies, who lives in Llangoed but has been steadfast in his opposition to Ysgol Beaumaris being shut, said that as one of the three coun- cillors for the Seiriol ward, he was being put in “a very difficult position.”
“I’ve been supporting all the schools in the ward, so the decision made today will make it a bit difficult for me as I back all three being kept open,” he added.
Fellow ward councillors, Carwyn Jones and Alun Roberts, also added their backing to neither Beaumaris nor Llangoed being shut. Cllr Roberts said: “I’m pleased with the decision; none of the three schools were given a fair shout in the last consultation and I hope the correct decision will be reached next time out.”
Cllr Jones added: “I will certainly be speaking up for both Beaumaris and Llangoed schools, as a local member.”
Earlier this month, Anglesey’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee had urged the Executive not to close Ysgol Talwrn and to “pause and review” on the future of Ysgol Beaumaris.
Anglesey Council has been approached to respond.