Around 600 parents protested against Gwynedd council school plans

The council said factors for the review were falling pupil numbers, unequal funding for pupils, and making sure schools were 'fit for purpose'.

Empty places in Conwy are expected to rise from 1751 to 2917 by 2012.

In Gwynedd, there have been widespread protests against school reorganisation plans, while Anglesey councillors have backed two school closures.

Conwy Council said the need for change was essential as, in four years, 16 of its 63 primary schools would be half empty.

Road show dates 14 Jan - Ysgol Glan Conwy (Aberconwy) 15 Jan - Canolfan Glasdir (Dyffryn Conwy) 16 Jan - Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn (John Bright) 22 Jan - Ysgol Glanwydden (Y Creuddyn) 23 Jan - Ysgol Llandrillo (Eirias) 29 Jan - Ysgol Cynfran (Bryn Eilian) 30 Jan - Ysgol Sant Elfod (Emrys ap Iwan) Source - Conwy County Council

Geraint James, Conwy's head of education, said it was the beginning of the review process.

"The number of pupils is falling and obviously the amount of funding coming in is less," he said.

"Is there a better way of organising primary education? That is what we want the communities to tell us.

"We want people to come to us and say this is what we want, this is the way forward."

There was no "hit list" or a list of schools to close, he added.

"What we want to do now is share the information we have with the communities involved to see what we can do together to make sure that our schools in the future will give the children the opportunities which they deserve," he said.

'Emotional response'

Mr James acknowledged that any changes to a school would create an "emotional" response.

"I think it's inevitable that a community will react because often children will attend the school attended by their parents, their grandparents and even their great-grandparents.

"Emotions will run high, and the feeling will be that there is a need to keep their school for the future.

"But we will be asking is, is that really the best thing for the children, to keep on with a building as it is now, rather than to look at other ways to move forward," Mr James added.

Consultation process

Anglesey councillors voted in December to close Ysgol Llanddeusant and Ysgol Aberffraw in August 2009.

The council said surplus places on the island cost it �425,000 in 2006, a figure set to rise to �625,000 by 2010.

Councillors in Gwynedd have also voted in favour of plans to reorganise primary education in the county.

A consultation on closing 29 schools and joining others together under one head teacher will go ahead after the scheme was backed by 43 votes to 22.

Around 600 people protested in Caernarfon before councillors met to discuss the plans.