Morfa juniors and infants schools are to merge

A meeting of Carmarthenshire Council's executive board has agreed to press ahead with the proposals to shut four schools in the town.

The council says the move will cut 700 surplus places in Llanelli and improve facilities for 1,200 pupils.

But those against the changes say it is unsuitable to put infant and junior school pupils in the same buildings.

Two more of our Welsh speaking communities in the county will lose their most important asset for regeneration Welsh Language Society

They are trying to organise a protest against the plans when they go before a meeting of the full council in September.

A small number of Welsh language campaigners were present at Monday's meeting.

They are opposed to separate plans for a new community school to be developed on the site of Ystradowen School on the county's border with Swansea, which would replace the current school and Cefnbrynbrain.

They are also against the closure of Llanddowror in the summer of 2004 which would see 20 pupils go to Ysgol Griffiths Jones in St Clears or the nearest church school.

Aled Davies of the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas Yr Iaith) said: "Two more of our Welsh speaking communities in the county will lose their most important asset for regeneration."

The organisation has called on Plaid Cymru members to withdraw from the council's ruling Plaid and Independent coalition.

Copperworks School will merge with Lakefield under the plans

In Llanelli Bryn School will be demolished and rebuilt.

Pupils from Llwynhendy Junior and Ysgol Yr Ynys will be taught at a brand new family learning centre.

Lakefield would be merged with Copperworks, Felinfoel Junior with Ysgol Y Babanod and Morfa Infants with Morfa Juniors.

Connie Richards, a governor at both Morfa schools, told BBC News Online there was widespread opposition to the change.

"It is difficult at the moment because this has been sprung upon us during the summer holidays when it is difficult to get people together.

"I'm sure we'll try and get some sort of protest at the full council meeting," she said.

The council's head of policy and performance Robert Blewitt said: "These proposals will provide much better facilities for pupils and remove 700 surplus places.

"The council is committed to ensuring that all children have access to modern educational facilities and these significant developments will help achieve that."

If the executive board gets the support of the full council, school closures still need to be sanctioned by the Welsh assembly.