Letter campaign for small school

Supporters want the previous decision to close the school overturned

Campaigners backing a closure-threatened school on Anglesey have handed 300 letters to the council.

The 17-pupil Ysgol Aberffraw - along with Ysgol Llanddeusant - is earmarked to close in August 2009, but supporters hope the decision will be reversed.

Meanwhile, one councillor, Glyn Jones, says he is willing to break council rules and risk a three-month ban to speak out for the school.

A council spokesperson said Tuesday was the last date to receive objections.

"The school governors wrote a letter in support of the school which we distributed to all the houses in the village for people to sign, and others went to the trouble of writing their own letter," said Mr Jones.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to save the school, and if that means a three-month ban for speaking publicly in support of the school, then so be it Councillor Glyn Jones

"I'm hopeful, due to the influx of new councillors following the local elections, that the decision to close can now be changed."

Mr Jones said he had felt frustrated before the election because under council rules he was banned from speaking in meetings about the school because his grandson is a pupil.

He said he would have had to declare an interest or face a three-month ban as a councillor, which would have meant he could not have stood in the election.

The rules still apply, but he said he was determined to speak out for the school.

"Now that is over, however, I am willing to do whatever it takes to save the school, and if that means a three-month ban for speaking publicly in support of the school, then so be it," he added.

Mr Jones said more could be done to keep smaller schools open.

"I've been banging on about it for three years but with no support, I hope now that making more use of the school - by incorporating Ysgol Feithrin, for instance - can be looked into."

Anglesey Council said: "The closing date for the consultation on the closure of Ysgol Aberffraw was today, and we can confirm that the authority has received in excess of 300 objections to the proposal.

"Officers will now be reporting on the objections to the new portfolio holder before taking any further action."

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