PARENTS and pupils in Llanover are celebrating the news that their school has been granted a last minute reprieve by Monmouthshire County Council. There was less good news however for parents at Darenfelin and Clydach where schools are set to close in August 2006 as recommended in Monmouthshire County Council's strategic review of primary education As reported in last week's Chronicle the schools issue was debated by full council which recommended to the authority's cabinet that Llanover Primary School should be kept open while Darenfelin and Clydach should close. As expected the Cabinet upheld the decision last Wednesday although the final decision will be made by the Welsh Assembly's Lifelong Learning Minister Jane Davidson. Reacting to the cabinet's decision, Chairman of Governors at Llanover Primary School, Rev'd Patrick Coleman said, "I am personally very pleased to see that the democratic process has been in operation and that the cabinet has recognised the significant successes of Llanover School in maintaining its support and also in managing its budget. "As chair of governors I would like to record a tribute to the head teacher and all staff at the school for maintaining the highest of standards under extra ordinary pressure." Governors were due to meet yesterday (Wednesday) after the Chronicle went to press to start work on developing the future of the school. Speaking ahead of the meeting Rev'd Patrick Coleman said, "We (the governors) are confident that the local authority will be supporting us in every possible way." Chris Edmondson, chairman of the Save Llanover School Action Group said she was 'delighted,' by the decision. "My son is now at King Henry and had all of his primary education at Llanover and I am glad other children are going to have that opportunity. "It is good to see democracy working. "The campaign was a community achievement and I would like to say thanks to everyone who worked so hard and to the councillors who listened us but most importantly the head teacher and staff at the school because if they weren't running such a good school it would not be staying open. "The school has been under threat of closure for four years and the pupil numbers have remained consistent and that's people voting with their presence. "It is very up lifting to get a decision like this. "We have been celebrating, but our celebrations have been tinged with sadness for those communities which are to lose their schools, I am very sorry for them. She said the action group has since developed into a support group which aimed to offer staff and governors help in times of need. Llanover's County Councillor Brian Hood,who is also a cabinet member said, "To say I am delighted is almost an understatement. "I am very pleased with the result. "I spoke in favour of the school and the council supported that view but I can't take the credit, the action group did tremendous work. "The staff are good and work well together, as the inspection identified, and they managed to keep their budget in balance. "It's a small, very active, very good community. "This decision gives recommendation to the community for them to send their children, although not all parents want to send their children to small village schools, I believe they should have a choice. "The cost per pupil to send them to Llanover is only slightly higher than the county average, and keeping Llanover open won't have any effect on the new school in Llanfoist. CONTINUED FROM FRONT
"I have got every sympathy for those communities which have lost their schools but the numbers of pupils attending those schools combined was still less than the numbers at Llanover, in those cases it is difficult to balance the budget. "It is sad and I feel sorry for the people but those schools could not keep going." Supporters of both Darenfelin and Clydach Schools were angered by the decision. Martin Thomas chairman of governors at Clydach School registered his disgust at the way in which the local education authority dealt with the issues surrounding the deficit budget at the school. "The governing body has made repeated attempts to try to make substantial savings which have not been supported by the LEA. "The school has admittedly lost substantial pupil numbers due to the ongoing threat of closure but is now starting to attract. "Clydach School is in the heart of the community and whilst parents and supporters applaud the decision to retain Llanover School they feel strongly that Clydach is a forgotten community as far as the Council is concerned "I would like to thank the support given to our case by the opposition and County Councillor Val Smith but I am totally dismayed by the decision of Councillor Verona Nelmes in supporting the Tory group. "We will definitely be presenting our case to the Assembly." Darenfelin Chairman of Governors Kevin Williams echoed Mr Thomas' intentions. "I'm amazed by the cabinet's attitude," said Mr Williams. "Darenfelin is the most northern school in Monmouthshire, the climate is unbelievable and to even dream about send those kids down the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road by bus once dualling has taken place beggars belief. "I'm absolutely gutted, but it's not over yet and if the Welsh Assembly want a fight then they've got one." Councillor Simon Howarth who represents the Llanelly Hill and Clydach area said, "If the parents and governors want to go to the Assembly to appeal they have got my support. "I am disappointed with the cabinet's decision because our core policy aims is for safer and stronger communities. "The upsetting thing as far as I am concerned, is we have destroyed those communities to a point by closing those schools, they do lie in the periphery of Monmouthshire, they are overlooked, they do have special circumstances and I do feel that Monmouthshire could have looked at their position differently to elsewhere. "I don't want children being bussed up and down busy roads to schools for an hour every day." He added, "I am happy for Llanover I wish them luck, this is where their work begins, they have got to maintain the numbers and the budget and prove to the council it can work. "I will fight for any rural school in Monmouthshire. "As a council we have a duty to meet the educational needs of these areas. County Councillor Anthony Carrington (pictured) who also represents the Llanelly Hill and Clydach area said he was, 'devastated' by the Cabinet's decision. "I don't think that Darenfelin and Clydach have had a fair hearing, I don't think the officers have fully met the demands that we had put together. "Martin Thomas put together substantial evidence that reductions could be made. "We identified cost cutting exercises and could have put forward a plan that would have safeguarded the schools. "I also put forward a similar argument to that of justification for building a school in Llanfoist, ie housing development. "Ninety four houses are to be built on the old EMAG site in Brynmawr in an area where the schools are saturated - the Roman Catholic and St Mary's Church in Wales schools have no surplus places and Blaen-y-Cwm only has nine. "Those children have to go to school somewhere and could be housed at Darenfelin or Clydach which are just on their doorstep. "I think the Cabinet's decision was solely a financial one and that was their main argument for closing the schools." Councillor Carrington said there were a number of options now open to supporters of the two schools. "We can accept the decision taken by the cabinet, take the fight to Jane Davidson where I fear we may not win or find an alternative. "Llanelly Hill and Clydach and Gilwern have been political footballs over the years having been moved five times from different authorities. "We have always been the runt of the authorities and this decision to take away our schools concretes this belief. "We are the poor relations of Monmouthshire County Council which I find unacceptable. "I would welcome any views from any of my constituents which will assist me in maintaining the schools on (01873) 831687.