Bid launched by community council to help secure future use of primary school

A local community council has announced plans to run a public consultation to help determine the future use of a village primary school.

Ysgol Pontfadog will close its doors for the final time on Friday following an executive board decision to shut the school – despite fierce opposition from local campaigners and residents of the community.

The school, which has been in the village for more than 110 years, forms part of the Ceiriog Valley Federation along with Ysgol Llanarmon and Ysgol Cynddelw.

However senior councillors voted last summer to close the school due to what was described as a “drop in pupil numbers at both Ysgol Pontfadog and Ysgol Cynddelw schools due to a growing Welsh medium demand in the valley.”

Now Glyntraian Community Council says it has agreed to bid for grant funding in order to run a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to seek opinion on the most favoured use of the Ysgol Pontfadog site.

Chair Chris Futcher said: “Wrexham Council leader Mark Pritchard has publicly declared the local authority is willing to transfer the whole site into the stewardship of Glyntraian Community Council (GCC) once the school closes if a suitable use is agreed.

“GCC will become responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the entire site thereafter.

“We wish to consult widely on the options for future use of the site, which will need to dovetail with our place plan and Wrexham Council’s own strategic priorities.

“We fully expect a robust, well-managed consultation process will reveal how most residents would prefer to see the asset used in the long-term.”

Recently the community council voted by an eight to one majority to sanction a 30 percent contribution worth £3,000 to run a professional consultation and feasibility study.

Grant funding has been applied for and Cadwyn Clwyd’s decision on whether it will agree to fund the remaining 70 percent from ERDF monies is expected in mid-July.

If approved the organisation says it will begin the process of inviting tenders from professional community engagement consultants via the Sell to Wales procurement site.

Cllr Jools Payne, who chairs the GCC Communications Committee, added: “A professionally executed community engagement consultation is vital to ensure as many local people as possible have their chance to contribute to the process.

“We anticipate the consultation may take up to five months.

“We will employ a wide range of online and offline tools and techniques, including digital as well as paper surveys, focus groups and public meetings to reach out to as many age groups, residents, visitors and businesses as possible.”

Anyone who wants to learn more about the Cadwyn Clwyd consultation on Ysgol Pontfadog is invited to contact the Glyntraian Community Council Clerk in the first instance by emailing [email protected] or call 07948 214079.

Details of further updates will be posted via the community council’s Facebook page and website.