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Vote on plan to close 29 schools 600 join schools closure protest
(about 6 hours later)
Councillors in Gwynedd are expected to vote on the next stage of their school reorganisation plan at a meeting in Caernarfon later. Around 600 people are staging a noisy protest in Caernarfon this lunchtime against plans to reorganise primary education in Gwynedd.
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. Parents from all over Gwynedd packed the streets outside the council offices in the town.
The plans also involve the building of eight larger new schools. The protesters were united in their condemnation of the plans to close 29 primary schools and join others together under one head teacher.
But the plans have provoked heavy criticism and up to 1,000 are expected to protest outside the meeting. Councillors will decide the next stage of the reorganisation later.
The councillors will be asked to vote on Thursday for the next stage of the shake-up by taking the plans out to consultation. The authority has put forward plans to close the schools because it says there has been a dramatic fall in pupil numbers over the last 20 years.
This will be the first time the plans will have been discussed by all members. It also wants to build eight new area schools in a move which it has said will make the best use of facilities instead of keeping 2,400 empty places.
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. But the plans, which will be discussed by all council members for the first time on Thursday, have provoked heavy criticism
Opposition Fierce opposition
If councillors back the changes, eight new area schools will be built leaving 48 schools across 85 different sites. But the scheme has met with fierce opposition from protesters campaigning for small school education.
The changes would then be implemented over the next six years. Paul Connor, a governor at Ysgol Rhiwlas, said he did not want the school to close and his children to travel to school by bus.
The schools earmarked to close range from Ysgol Rhydyclafdy with four pupils to Ysgol Borthygest, which has 80. "Most children are now within walking distance," he said.
But the council faces stiff opposition from parents who say their children have a right to small school education. Aled Williams, from Ysgol y Garreg at Llanfrothen, said he had moved his children from a larger primary school so they could benefit from smaller classes.
"Their education has improved as a result," he said.
The protesters gathered outside the council offices
Ysgol Baladeulyn in Nantlle has produced a CD which they plan to sell to fund a campaign to save their school.
"My son has a fantastic education there," said Carys Owen.
Not all the schools represented at the protest are earmarked for closure.
Amanda Bristow's children attend Ysgol Brynaerau at Pontllyfni which is set to federalise with two other schools.
She said: "Federalisation is the thin end of the wedge, leaving the way open to close the smaller school."
The schools earmarked to close range from Ysgol Rhydyclafdy with four pupils to Ysgol Borth-y-gest, which has 80.
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.
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.