Council bosses today unveiled plans to spend £2 million on improving schools in Powys at the same time as 11 primaries are facing the axe.

Powys County Council plans to spend the cash on a range of repairs, refurbishment and upgrading works

But a campaigner for one of the schools on the council’s hit-list today said that the cash should not be spent if it meant schools would still close.

It comes just weeks after the authority announced it would be reviewing 11 primary schools in the region because they had fewer than 30 pupils.

Sixth forms across the county are also being looked at for possible closure, as part of the council’s secondary school review.

Members of the council’s ruling board will decide whether to approve the cash for improvements to schools in the county at a meeting on Tuesday.

The improvements would include resurfacing and building work at Newtown High School costing £480,000, roof works worth £200,000 at Welshpool High School, window replacement and heating upgrade at Llangattock worth £80,000 and boiler and lighting work worth £100,000 at John Beddoes, Presteigne.

But Leigh Kellaway, chairman of governors at Llanfechain Church in Wales Primary School, which is facing possible closure, said he hoped the money would not be spent at the expense of other schools.

He said: “I hope it’s not money that is being found through school closures.

“I hope it is new money because I wouldn’t want improvements being made to one school at the expense of another one closing.”

Councillor David Jones, the council’s board member for schools, said: “The prog-ramme contains funding for general work such as upgr-ading fire alarm systems, kitchen improvements and remedial works following fixed electrical testing programme.

“It also includes funding for toilet refurbishments arising from the Pennington E.coli Report.”

He said: “The work will help improve physical environment in which our young learners are taught and make sure, as far as possible, that school buildings comply with all relevant health and safety standards.”

By Anwen Evans