Local people have been called to a public meeting

Local people fear it will lead to the loss of playing fields in the village, despite a proposal from the council to provide new ones nearby.

Wrexham Council wants to spend �4.2m building a new English language primary school on Ponciau Banks fields.

It would replace the village's three existing English language schools.

A new Welsh language school would also be opened in one of the existing buildings.

The council is proposing to offer alternative playing fields at Pant Brickworks in the nearby village of Penycae.

But residents have begun a petition against the plans and have enlisted the support of the National Playing Fields Association.

Once you have sold fields, they have gone forever Goronwy Jones, NUT National Executive

Wynford Thomas, chief strategic services officer at Wrexham Council, said he welcomed the views of the community at Tuesday's meeting.

"The current state of the schools is unacceptable and we have had to come up with solutions that are both affordable and achievable," he said.

"The proposals will also provide the community with high quality playing fields for local teams."

The council hopes to start work in the next financial year.

Lynne Hayes, from the National Playing Fields Association and founder of Save Open Spaces Wales, complained that playing fields were not protected in Wales.

"In England, every playing field disposal has to go in front of the Education Secretary," she said.

"In Wales, it goes to local planners - the law needs changing."

Goronwy Jones, the National Union of Teachers' national executive member for Wales, added that councils across Wales were selling off "valuable facilities" when open spaces were sacrificed.

"Once you have sold playing fields, they have gone forever," he said.

The meeting will be held at the Stiwt in Rhosllanerchrugog at 1900 BST on Tuesday