A High Court judge has warned Carmarthenshire County Council it must properly consider alternatives to closing Ysgol Meidrim before making a final decision.
The ruling follows a judicial review challenge brought by parent Leia Perry over the proposed closure of the Welsh-medium primary school.
His Honour Judge Jarman KC dismissed the challenge but said the council still had an opportunity to consider alternative proposals during the ongoing process.
Campaigners said the judgement was a significant warning to the authority.
Ffred Ffransis, of Cymdeithas yr laith, said: ‘The judge criticised the lack of clear communication from the council and that governors had the impression that the council had not yet seriously considered alternatives to closure of Ysgol Meidrim, but found that the evidence did not yet reach the high threshold for legal intervention.
‘He has warned the council that they must give conscientious consideration to the alternative proposals drawn up by governors.’
Governors have proposed developing the school as part of the community hub and exploring federation options instead of closure.
The dispute has also deepened after the council withdrew and reissued its closure notice three days after publication. Campaigners said the original notice named Ysgol Bancyfelin as a receiving school before it emerged the school was already over capacity.
A revised notice has extended the objection period until 17 July.
Supporters have placed notices at the school gates stating that Ysgol Meidrim remains open and encouraging parents to continue enrolling children while the closure process remains unresolved.
Image: Feliphe Schiarolli/UnSplash
In related news:
Leave a Reply