A public meeting has been called to discuss a programme of school closures in North Powys.

Mid Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds, who is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, says council decision makers are "hiding away" from communities, and believes the meeting, set to be held next week on August 12, will give people the chance to have their say.

Powys County Council’s (PCC) cabinet formally approved the closure of Castle Caereinion Church in Wales School last month, when the cabinet gave the go-ahead for a statutory notice to be published in September, formally proposing the closure after receiving and considering the consultation report. The school joins other North Powys schools in Churchstoke, Llangedwyn, Llanfechain and Llansilin on a list of proposed closures.

A petition organised by Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats has gathered 500 signatures.

The meeting will be held outdoors at 2pm, August 12, at Tynllan Farm, Castle Caereinion.

"We are also inviting the Education Portfolio holder, Councillor Phyl Davies, Russell George Member of the Senedd and Craig Williams MP," she said.

"We want to hear further about the concerns about school closures. Last month, the parents, students and staff at Castle Caereinion found out their school will shut, whilst the fate of Llansilin and Churchstoke school still hangs in the balance.

"The parents, staff and children of the Castle Caereinion, Churchstoke, and Llansilin areas have already been through so much in the last year, and now the Council is threatening to close down peoples’ local school.

"In many cases, these schools are the heart of these rural communities and many parents have told me they don’t feel the Council has adequately consulted them or listened to them. The Council’s key decision-makers should have organized public meetings, which they can do now, but instead they are hiding away from the affected communities.”

"That is why I’ve called this public meeting. I want to talk to those affected and listen to their concerns so that we can campaign effectively to pause the consultation process, and stop the rural school closures."

Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by emailing glyn.preston@libdems.wales