Letters concerning the future of Builth Wells high school are to be sent to the Welsh Assembly’s education minister and Brecon and Radnorshire Assembly Member Kirsty Williams, from the town council.
At a meeting on Tuesday, Builth Wells county councillor Avril York brought members up-to-date on the current schools situation, following the leak of a document which included four options for the future including closing up to seven schools or closing sixth forms.
He said the leaked options included no costings, and while much had been made of surplus places, there were a lot of children due to come through the school system over the next few years.
“The status quo is still an option and I think we should be supporting it,” he said.
But Councillor Geoff York said he thought it was too early to put in a letter of support because he did not think there was any proper options to support or object to yet. “We should insist that town and community councillors are included in the process though,” he said.
Councillor Frances Christley said they did not want the status quo, they want the best education for their children.
And Councillor Adrian Jones warned: “We have lost our maternity care in this town, we are threatened with losing the Wyeside, we have lost so many things. If we lose the high school, this town will not be the same as it has been over the years.
“Children are educated here, play rugby here, it’s the heart of the community.
“Some of the things in this town are on a knife edge and if we lose these things what is the point of Builth Wells?”
Councillor Jonathan Morgan said the problem with Powys was that there was a lot of differences across the county; there could be surplus places in some areas and shortages of places in others, but it was all put together as ‘Powys’.
“I think we should be pointing our guns at the education minister in Cardiff and we should also send a delegation to Kirsty Williams, our Brecon and Radnorshire AM, to see what she is doing on the issue,” he urged fellow councillors.
Members agreed to send a letter regarding the future of education in Powys in general and Builth Wells in particular to the Assembly education minister and Kirsty Williams. A copy will also be sent to the re-formed campaign group, Powys Against Cuts in Education.