Parents and governors at Hermon have already indicated their opposition.

Children in rural areas will have to travel to other schools

Local county councillor Lynn Davies said he saw no justification in closing a school that has almost 50 pupils.

He added that all indications showed the number would remain fairly constant as several new houses are being built in the village for young couples.

The council says pupil numbers have dwindled to the extent that these schools are too costly to run.

Meanwhile, statutory notices of closure have already been announced for Dinas and Trewyddel (Moylegrove).

Any appeals have to be made to Pembrokeshire County Council by 7 February.

We have the responsibility to put forward a vigorous case...for the sake of rural school throughout Wales

Jonathan Guest, vice chair, Moylegrove governors

The council then has a further month to respond to the appeal.

Both the response and the appeal then go to the Welsh Assembly, where education minister Jane Davidson has three months to make a final decision.

Parents and governors of Moylegrove say they will be lodging an appeal.

They say that closing small village schools will have a devastating effect on the community.

Jonathan Guest, vice chair of governors at Moylegrove said: "We are fighting this. We've looked at all the issues and have worked hard.

Parents and pupils have protested at the closures

"We feel we have the responsibility to put forward a vigorous case not only for the schools here but for the sake of rural school throughout Wales.

Only 15 pupils are now left at Dinas which is earmarked for closure at the end of July 2002.

An Audit Commission report four years ago said Pembrokeshire had 2,800 unfilled places in its schools and could save up to �370,000 per year by cutting its capacity by 2,000 pupil places.

Michelle Bartram, chair of governors at Dinas, said they are not making an appeal to the county council.

"We've decided to appeal directly to the Welsh assembly.

Parents, governors and the community council are writing letters to Jayne Davidson asking her to keep Dinas school open."

'Great improvement'

Dinas is the former school of Pembrokeshire's director of education.

The school received an inspection from Estyn just a few days after the closure notice was posted on the school gates.

Ms Bartram added: "We've received a draft copy of the Estyn report which was very, very favourable. It showed we've made a great improvement."

Pembrokeshire County Council said Thursday's meeting is to rubber stamp its policy of rationalising rural schools.

A spokesman said that no comment could be made until an appeal had been received.