Two island schools win reprieve

Campaigners have fought to keep the schools open

Two small Anglesey primary schools which were threatened with closure have won a reprieve.

Anglesey Council has withdrawn proposals to close Ysgol Aberffraw and Ysgol Llanddeusant from August 2009.

Campaigners had been fighting to keep open both schools after they were earmarked for closure under a review.

The schools, both with less than 25 pupils, had been earmarked for closure under a review of two catchment areas last December.

But the new independent-led council administration voted in last month said they wanted to undertake an island-wide review of school provision.

I do not believe that bringing out proposals area by area was the correct or fair approach Councillor Phil Fowlie

Leader cllr Phil Fowlie said they recognised that maintaining the "status quo was not an option" and they would be letting the assembly government know that they would not be adopting the previous executive's decision.

He said: "We want to look at the island as a whole and consider the impact on rural communities before deciding how to move ahead with the entire reorganisation process on the island.

Mr Fowlie said they had raised concerns in opposition and called for an island-wide review and he intended to "adhere to this approach".

He added: "I do not believe that bringing out proposals area by area was the correct or fair approach".

The new executive will now meet officers from the education and leisure department to discuss the way forward.

• Councillors in Gwynedd, where there have also been widespread opposition to planned closures, have also been recommended to review the decision.

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