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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Vote on plan to close 29 schools | Vote on plan to close 29 schools |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Councillors in Gwynedd are expected to vote on the next stage of their school reorganisation plan at a meeting in Caernarfon later. | Councillors in Gwynedd are expected to vote on the next stage of their school reorganisation plan at a meeting in Caernarfon later. |
| The council has put forward plans to close 29 primary schools because it says there has been a dramatic fall in pupil numbers over the last 20 years. | The council has put forward plans to close 29 primary schools because it says there has been a dramatic fall in pupil numbers over the last 20 years. |
| The plans also involve the building of eight larger new schools. | The plans also involve the building of eight larger new schools. |
| But the plans have provoked heavy criticism and up to 1,000 are expected to protest outside the meeting. | But the plans have provoked heavy criticism and up to 1,000 are expected to protest outside the meeting. |
| The councillors will be asked to vote on Thursday for the next stage of the shake-up by taking the plans out to consultation. | |
| This will be the first time the plans will have been discussed by all members. | This will be the first time the plans will have been discussed by all members. |
| The aim of the changes is to make the best use of facilities and to pay for education, rather than to keep 2,400 empty places, said Iwan Trefor Jones, Gwynedd council's strategic director of development. | The aim of the changes is to make the best use of facilities and to pay for education, rather than to keep 2,400 empty places, said Iwan Trefor Jones, Gwynedd council's strategic director of development. |
| Opposition | Opposition |
| If councillors back the changes, eight new area schools will be built leaving 48 schools across 85 different sites. | If councillors back the changes, eight new area schools will be built leaving 48 schools across 85 different sites. |
| The changes would then be implemented over the next six years. | The changes would then be implemented over the next six years. |
| The schools earmarked to close range from Ysgol Rhydyclafdy with four pupils to Ysgol Borthygest, which has 80. | The schools earmarked to close range from Ysgol Rhydyclafdy with four pupils to Ysgol Borthygest, which has 80. |
| But the council faces stiff opposition from parents who say their children have a right to small school education. | But the council faces stiff opposition from parents who say their children have a right to small school education. |
| Local campaign groups are also concerned that school closures will leave the future of some villages in doubt. | Local campaign groups are also concerned that school closures will leave the future of some villages in doubt. |
| Between 500 and 1,000 people are expected to march through the streets of Caernarfon before the meeting takes place at 1200 GMT. | Between 500 and 1,000 people are expected to march through the streets of Caernarfon before the meeting takes place at 1200 GMT. |
| There have been several smaller protests since the closures were announced in October including one on Wednesday where pupils from Ysgol y Clogau near Dolgellau, Gwynedd presented a 1,500 signature petition to their MP, Elfyn Llwyd. | There have been several smaller protests since the closures were announced in October including one on Wednesday where pupils from Ysgol y Clogau near Dolgellau, Gwynedd presented a 1,500 signature petition to their MP, Elfyn Llwyd. |
| Parents have also lobbied councillors and other local politicians. | Parents have also lobbied councillors and other local politicians. |