THE decision by Cabinet members not to close a school in Monmouthshire has been 'called in' by three opposition councillors.

Llanfair Kilgeddin was saved from closure thanks to a majority Cabinet vote at Monmouthshire County Council, earlier this month.

Govilon, Llanover and Llanfair Kilgeddin faced the axe in a review into falling rolls and 400 surplus places at north Monmouthshire primary schools.

However the anglican school Llanfair Kilgeddin was saved at Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet and will now not be considered for potential closure in the review.

All of the cabinet, with the exception of the leader, councillor Peter Fox, voted to exclude the school from future consultation.

Councillor Brian Hood moved that Llanfair Kilgeddin should not go forward to 'informal consultation'. He said it was the only voluntary aided school in the north of the county.

However, this week, councillor Christine Walby, Govilon ward, Jim Higginson, the leader of the opposition and Tony Eason for Caldicot requested to 'call in' the decision.

Councillor Walby, who initiated the 'call in' said the decision to save the school was "illogical."

She said, "The conservative cabinet has completely undermined the credibility of the review of primary education in the north of the county. It has also challenged the authority of its own leader councillor Peter Fox.

Councillor Walby added, "Councillor Fox is the only member of the cabinet who comes out of this sorry saga with any credibility. He led the working group which considered the difficult problem of surplus primary school places and urged fellow councillors to put aside any political or parochial interests. To his credit he followed his own advice."

Councillor Walby described the move as "politically motivated."

She added, "Llanfair Kilgeddin was the least fit for purpose of the schools being considered both in terms of low pupil numbers and physical conditions. As the county councillor for Govilon, where the school is much larger and in a much better state of repair to say I am thoroughly dismayed is an understatement. Govilon School is thriving and successful and not surprisingly the village is united in the desire to overturn the MCC decision."

Today cabinet member and councillor Brian Hood has hit back at the claims and the request to 'call in' the decision.

He said, "At the meeting Jim didn't say anything, neither did Tony and Christine Walby wasn't even there.

"There were new issues raised at Cabinet which were not raised at the working group. The number of pupils is growing - it in in fact at capacity. Parents who choose an Anglican education could be forced to drive their children to Magor or Portskewett.

"There was no real cost saving because it is a voluntary aided school it belongs to the diocese. If it was closed any revenue from sales would go to the diocese not to the county.

"I cannot understand why they called it in other than Christine was unhappy about Govilon. But she did not do anything about it, she could have spoken in the meeting but she wasn't even there. She would have been if she was really upset."

Verona Nelmes, Govilon chairman of governors agreed with councillor Walby and claimed the decisions were made on a political basis not an educational one.

She said, "To keep the smallest school open is completely illogical. The buildings are poor with outside toilets and I believe only one child attending the schools lives within the catchment area.

"The lead councillor on this issue, Councillor Peter Fox has once again been let down by his Tory colleagues. They did the same thing seven years ago over Llanover School. Had that been closed then as proposed Llanfoist would have had an increase of numbers for its new school.

"This decision has not been made to improve education but to protect Tory seats."

Councillor Hood refuted the claims that the decision was political, "There's two school in my patch, the other in Llanover but Llanfair is special. The number of pupils has increased dramatically and Llanover's numbers are falling enormously. We expect the diocese together with the school to put fund in to upgrade the building to a proper standard. The parents are very happy with it and the last inspection was very good."

The future is still uncertain for Govilon and Llanover Primary Schools. Llanover has 35 surplus places while Govilon has 49.