Communities living in Banwy Valley are still waiting to find out which school could be closed soon.

The future of Banw County Primary School and Llanerfyl Church in Wales School was set to be discussed at Powys County Council’s (PCC) Full Council meeting, on Thursday, February 21.

It was supposed to be heard in a private session following the budget debate but now seems likely to be on the agenda for the Full Council meeting on Thursday, March 7.

Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan (Glantwymyn), asked: “I was just asking, why item five (Banw CP School and Llanerfyl C in W  School) is not being discussed and no paper presented?

“My understanding was, that the paperwork was ready last Friday (February 15)”

Powys County Council, head of learning, Dr Alec Clark, answered: “There are actually two school re-organisations documents at the moment.

“We weren’t too sure due to the changes of staff in our own department who was available today.

“The whole idea is that we have officer coverage and put those two papers into the same one (meeting) and to give more time. Nothing more complicated than that.”

Last Autumn a consultation was held over the futures of  Dyffryn Banw County Primary (CP) School  in Llangadfan and Llanerfyl Church in Wales (CIW) School.

The school closure, located in one of the Welsh language heartlands of Powys, has been on the agenda since last summer.

It had been expected back in July 2018 that the Powys Cabinet would decide to close Dyffryn Banw with pupils transferred to the Llanerfyl Church in Wales School which is two-and-a-half miles away. But they compromised and decided to hold a consultation.

A report on the consultation findings was due to be heard.

Local member Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, the education portfolio holder, is a school governor at Llanerfyl and has declared an interest, taking her out of the decision making process.

Drop-in sessions were held at both Dyffryn Banw and Llanerfyl last October. Ar Dyffryn Banw – 100 people turned up to the session while only 40 went to the corresponding meeting at Llanerfyl.

Ysgol Dyffryn Banw doubles up as a community centre and the Dyffryn Banw football team uses the facilities there to change before playing its matches in  Mid-Wales League Two. The community centre has been the meeting point for Ysgol Theatr Maldwyn and is expected to host this year’s Powys Eisteddfod.

Llanerfyl Church in Wales school is reputed to be one of the oldest in the whole of Powys. The school building is owned by the Priscilla Foster Trust.

Trustees and the Diocese of St Asaph are happy to support the proposal to establish a new Voluntary Aided Church in Wales school in Llanerfyl.