Anger over Powys Council's 'ridiculous' idea to close Newtown school

More than 30 people attended a public meeting last week to share their concerns about the authority's proposal to close Treowen Primary School and Maesyrhandir CP School as part of plans to build one large school at the current Ysgol Calon y Dderwen site.

County councillor Joy Jones said she will "fight every step of the way" to save Treowen Primary School, a 135-pupil school in her ward.

"We need more and more people to fight this," she told parents and grandparents. "We need the estate to be engaged. I feel it will have a devastating effect."

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Powys County Council said the idea of increasing the size of the new replacement building for Ysgol Calon y Dderwen so that up to 500 English-medium pupils in south Newtown can attend is at a "very early stage".

A mum, who did not want to be named, said the Treowen community will have nothing left if the school is closed.

"It’s ridiculous. The council needs to stop thinking about the money. Children will not cope in a big school like that. It’s the hub of our community. Treowen is one of the biggest deprived areas and without this school this area has got nothing.

More than 30 parents and grandparents attended a meeting at Treowen Primary School. Image: Anwen Parry/Powys County Times (Image: Anwen Parry/Powys County Times)

"The staff are amazing. Every single member of staff knows every single pupil’s name.

“They’re saying that the kids will get the best education in the big school, that there’s real poor education here. No, they’re not. Our teachers have got time for the children. Not just to be sat in a classroom relying on underpaid LSAs (learning support assistants) to educate our kids because that’s what it’s going to be like for a class with 30 plus kids."

A grandmother told the meeting that residents feel that there are "two sides of the river" with south Newtown being unfairly targeted with school closures. She added that taking away schools based on decreasing pupil numbers - Treowen had 135 pupils and Maesyrhandir 117 in 2022 - while new houses are built in the area would be a premature decision by the council.

Councillor Joy Jones told parents and grandparents that the council's idea was "fed to me out of the blue".

“They’re saying that the children will get a really good education. I challenged them whether they’re not getting a good education now. I told them that you better step up now and sort it out.”

Cllr Jones added: "I genuinely don’t believe traffic can be handled in Park Street. It’s horrendous. A nightmare.

"I’ve spoken to quite a lot of parents, and if this school is closed, they will travel out of town. This is not helping Powys’ green agenda. It’s not a good thing. It’s not safe crossing a busy road for people on this estate. I will fight where you want it to be."