MP sounds warning over plans to close three Mid Wales schools

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies was reacting to Powys County Council's announcement that it wants to close three of its 12 secondary schools.

He said: "I am clearly pretty concerned by this. I think this is a really, really worrying position statement by the council.

"Whichever school in Montgomeryshire might close it would have a devastating impact on the town and I am very worried about that. We need to speak to the council to understand the rationale behind it."

Mr Davies warned the loss of any secondary school for any town in Mid Wales would "tear the heart out of the community".

He said: "This would be a very dramatic change, it would be a real desperate blow to any town to lose its school, both for the morale and the future of the town."

Powys currently has secondary schools in Newtown (along with the John Beddoes Campus in Presteigne), Llanfyllin, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Gwernyfed, Crickhowell, Brecon and Ystradgynlais.

The council has not yet revealed which schools might close if its cabinet approves the review on January 27 but if the proposals were approved then 93 teacher posts would be cut but the county would reduce the amount of surplus places at secondary schools from 1,521 to 79.

The council's cabinet member for schools, Councillor Arwel Jones said the authority would not take the decision to close schools lightly but that finances meant they had to take action.

He said: "We have to respond to falling school pupil numbers and dwindling budgets to ensure our young learners have the best possible educational opportunities."