A Shropshire schools campaigner today urged county councillors to postpone any decision on moving to the next stage of a plan to amalgamate 16 primary schools.

On Monday Shropshire County Council’s cabinet will consider whether to move forward with each of the eight proposed amalgamations, which would affect 16 schools.

Councillors will have to decide whether to issue a statutory notice on each recommendation to consult on creating a new school, or to drop that proposal. If they proceed to statutory notices there would be a six-week consultation process.

But Carla Lowndes, a parent governor at Buildwas School and a leading campaigner in the fight to prevent school closures and mergers, today urged councillors to hold back.

She wants councillors to wait for feedback from Neil Kinghan, independent chairman of a policy commission to examine the future of schools in the county.

She said: “If cabinet is serious about this policy commission as a way to move forward, they should postpone any decisions.”

A county council said: “Councillors will decide at the cabinet meeting on Monday whether to continue to the next stage of consultation. The policy commission is looking at the wider aspects of primary school provision and will take on board the views of teachers, parents, partners and the community.”

l Supporters of Lydbury North Primary School, facing merging with Clunbury, are planning to turn out in force at Monday’s meeting. Parent Nikki Pugh said: “Supporters will be taking with them a very innovative way of representing the school community.”