The controversial closure of a village primary school in Radnorshire has been confirmed.

Llanfihangel Rhydithon primary school which has 36 pupils, will close at the end of August, and save Powys County Council £76,000.

The fate the primary school in Dolau, between Llandrindod Wells and Knighton, was sealed by councillors at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 8.

Following a consultation, the Independent/Conservative cabinet had decided last September to go ahead and close the school.

And the decision was confirmed at a meeting of Powys Council's cabinet on Tuesday, despite a 200-page report containing objections to the plans being put before the committee.

It ends a long-running battle over the fate of the school – one of four that was earmarked for closure, along with Castle Caereinion, Churchstoke and Llanbedr's schools. Of those, only Churchstoke was spared the axe.

The cabinet also listened to arguments from local councillor Hywel Lewis and Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt against the closure.

Cllr Lewis pointed out that in collaboration with Llanelwedd Church in Wales primary school, Llanfihangel Rhydithon had been going from “strength to strength”.

Cllr Gibson-Watt wanted to see the cabinet “pause and reflect” on the current school reorganisation programme.

County Times: Pupils at Dolau.Pupils at Dolau.

Cllr Gibson-Watt said:  “The school is more or less full.

“We’re not talking about educational standards, those are very good, it’s working very successful with another school.

“So, what’s driving the idea of closing this school? The truth is because it’s a small school.

“This will have massive implications and long-term consequence for the county as a whole.”

Cllr Gibson-Watt added that the cabinet had not decided what to do to the Ysgol Calon Cymru catchment area of Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells.

“Yet today you’re deciding to close one of its feeder schools, strategically I don’t understand how on earth it fits in,” said Cllr Gibson-Watt.

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies said: “On surplus capacity and there not being any in Dolau, that is correct. But not of the catchment.”

He believed that rectifying surplus school spaces across catchment areas was something Estyn had wanted.

Schools’ transformation manager, Marianne Evans said: “The option to federate with Llanelwedd came up in the consultation, it is not legally possible to federate a Church in Wales school and a community primary school.

“We are looking at potential options for Ysgol Calon Cymru  and have recently finished an informal engagement about the provision.

“Comments have been made why we haven’t included all the primary schools in a formal area review.

“We have to look at where the problems are and the highest priority to address.

“That is in fact Ysgol Calon Cymru itself.”

Cllr Hywel Lewis said Llanfihangel Rhydithon had made it “quite clear” that they were prepared to become a church school to accommodate a federation and had been in touch with the diocese of Swansea and Brecon.

“The process was started but the education department stopped it,” said Cllr Lewis.”

Cabinet voted unanimously in favour of closure.

From September 1, pupils currently attending Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School will have to attend an alternative school.