Councillors To Vote On Whether To Halt Plaid Cymru’s School Closure Plans

The on-going consultations on further school closures in Carmarthenshire are causing significant mental health, warn parents ahead of a crunch vote this week.
Carmarthenshire Councillors will vote on whether to pause the current consultations on  proposals to close Mynyddygarreg and Blaenau schools until after lockdown has eased.
A motion tabled by Carmarthenshire Labour Leader, Cllr Rob James, calls on Plaid Cymru Councillors to halt the ongoing school closure consultations, after parents raised concerns that carrying them out during the pandemic was impacting the child’s and parent’s mental health.
In the last week, Cllr Rob James met with parents of Ysgol Gynradd Blaenau to hear about the impact the consultation was having on their families and states he was alarmed by the level of pressure the process was having on pupils and parents. 
Parents stated that they felt “beaten” and “mentally deflated”, with stories being told of children breaking down over the stress of the closure plans coupled with home schooling.

The Opposition Leader was also joined by Nia Griffith MP and Lee Water MS to meet with those connected with the campaign to save Mynyddygarreg.
The current consultations were launched in January and are set to close on the 21st of February, with Carmarthenshire Labour calling on Adam Price MS to intervene.
The motion also calls on the Executive Board to produce a report on the viability of Carmarthenshire schools, outlining any future school footprint changes. 
Ahead of the vote, Cllr Rob James stated “It is morally wrong to place this amount of pressure on families during the pandemic. We must pause these consultations immediately.
“As an authority we have received reports of the mental impact the on-going lockdown and home schooling is having on pupils, and it is extremely surprising that Plaid Councillors felt it was appropriate to add additional pressure on them with plans to close schools.
“The deafening silence of the Adam Price MS and Jonathan Edwards MP is clear for all to see. As Plaid Cymru Leader, Adam must intervene and call on his Councillors to axe the consultations. 
“I sincerely hope that the administration will listen to heart wrenching pleas from parents and pupils this week and halt the consultations, until we are in a position to support families and communities responding to these plans.”
Labour’s spokesperson for education, Cllr Gary Jones said “It appears that these school closure plans may be the tip of the iceberg. 

“We know there has been talk within County Hall that schools under 150 pupils were unsustainable – that is dozens of schools in Carmarthenshire. It is time that Plaid Councillors come clean with the public and outline what schools they are looking to close next.”