Dolau school has been condemned to closure, bringing to an end a lengthy battle to save the 36-pupil school.

The means that the planned closure of the school between Llandrindod Wells and Presteigne, whose proper name is Llanfihangel Rhydithon Primary School, will go ahead on August 31, 2023.

In July the council's cabinet had agreed to delay closing the school for a year to allow an investigation to take place into whether the school could become a Welsh medium site.

But at a meeting of Powys County Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, December 20, councillors were given the findings of the investigation into the Welsh medium option.

Schools transformation manager Marianne Evans said: “Our advice as officers is clear that establishing Welsh medium education at Dolau is not viable.

“It doesn’t meet the aspiration in the council’s WESP to develop Welsh medium provision in Powys’ main centres of population in order to stimulate demand.”

She added: “High quality Welsh medium education is available locally at both Ysgol Trefonnen (Llandrindod Wells) and Rhayader Church in Wales primary schools with places available.”

Powys County Councillor for Llangunllo and Norton which includes the Dolau area, Cllr Deb Edwards said: “It’s been a tough long running fight, the school is very much the community’s proud strong beating heart.”

County Times: Cllr Deb EdwardsCllr Deb Edwards

She explained that the delay had given the community hope.

Cllr Edwards said the community had “embraced” the opportunity of looking towards the future and providing a “steppingstone” for the Welsh language in East Radnorshire.

Cllr Edwards said: “I am very disappointed with the recommendations from Powys County Council’s Welsh Medium Education Forum claiming that Llanfihangel Rhydithon doesn’t fit into their vision as a location.

“This must rule out huge swathes of the county.”

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Ithon Valley’s Cllr Geoff Morgan said:  “The public want small school and our job is to do what they want which is to retain these schools."

Chairman of the Welsh Education Forum, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, explained that the group is made up of Welsh language and education experts many of whom have campaigned for Welsh medium education for many years

Cllr Vaughan said: “This is an unusual situation; we welcome the support and genuine interest from families in the Welsh language.

“However, there were questions about sustainability and development of the provision in the long term as well as the effect on Trefonnen and Rhayader.”

He added that in East Radnorshire, developing Welsh medium education in Presteigne and Knighton are the preferred options.

“The people who make these comments do know what they are talking about,” said Cllr Vaughan.

County Times: Cllr Pete RobertsCllr Pete Roberts

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Pete Roberts was asked by cabinet member for caring Powys Cllr Sian Cox what had been the benefits of delaying the closure for the Welsh medium option to be explored

Cllr Roberts said: “That we’ve gained a clearer indication of what we need to do to stimulate interest and commitment moving forward with Welsh medium education.

“There was quite a clear lack of awareness of what Welsh medium education means.”

He added that in the future the council and its partners would need to “learn from this process” how to promote the benefits and opportunities associated with Welsh medium education.

Cllr Roberts said: “As much as I want to go forward with this proposal the evidence from our officers and advisors are saying this is not the time or the place to do that.”