Well, I’ve watched both the Learning Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet meeting in relation to the proposal to proceed with the closure of Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School and like so many others are disappointed with the Cabinets outcome.

Whilst the Learning Scrutiny Committee certainly did its job in exposing some of clear flaws in the proposals led by Liberal Democrat councillors Jake Berriman and Pete Roberts the education officers pulled on the puppet strings of Cabinet councillors and left them with no other option than proceeding with wielding the axe that lay over the school.

Anyone watching the Cabinet meeting would have heard the newly appointed Director of Education who’s salary is double the proposed savings from closing the school of £59K talk about everything else other than the school specifically – one needs to seriously ask who a council, and councillors have found the money to pay this person but hasn’t the money to educate the children at Llanfihangel Rhydition CP School.

I know what my priority would be, and I’d be 95 per cent certain I’d know what the priority of Powys tax payers would be too.

Within an hour of the Cabinet making its decision both Conservative Fay Jones MP and James Evans MS realised a statement saying how “devastated they both were,” “that our rural schools should protected,” “we implore to review this decision,” “James and I will continue with this fight to get this overturned.”

Please forgive me for pointing out that the warm words of both the Conservative MP and MS is not what needed but action.

It is their Conservative councillor Cabinet chums that approved the closure and therefore they hadn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t do anything to change their minds.

What makes it worse is that James Evans MS is still a salary receiving Powys County Council councillor and had he still been a Cabinet member would have done nothing other than raise his hand faster than the speed of lighting to also approve the closer.

Let’s hope they both publicly apologise.

I’m calling you both out.

Gary Price

Cydweli

Sir Gaerfryddin