Call for the government to give hope to communities

A Judicial Review judgment is expected this week regarding Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision to proceed to consultation on a proposal to close Meidrim school without first undertaking a proper process to consider all options, including a presumption against closure. Cymdeithas yr Iaith has called on the Council not to publish a Closure Notice before the outcome of the Judicial Review is known.

Speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Carmarthenshire, Ffred Ffransis said:

“Given that the court has decided that a full hearing is required for a parent’s application for a Judicial Review, it is clear that the court believes there is a substantial case to answer. Even if the situation were not to reach the high threshold required for legal intervention, the Council should carefully consider any comments made by the judge before proceeding to issue a Closure Notice.”

On the same day today, Pembrokeshire County Council decided to close Ysgol Clydau in the north of the county, despite strong opposition from the local community. Bethan Williams, speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said:

“One of the councillors said that closing rural schools is a symptom of the wider problem of depopulation. It is true that the decline in pupil numbers is a symptom, and one that is common to several counties, but rather than addressing the wider problem, the council decided to close the school today.

“Similarly, maintaining and developing rural schools is not the only solution to this, but it is a fundamental part of the solution. There are plans to build more affordable housing in the village of Tegryn, but what is the point of those houses without schools for children?

“There is an opportunity for the new government to give new hope to our Welsh-speaking rural communities, and we will be pressing them to make use of that opportunity.”