Llandinam school could be saved at Monday's meeting

Fifteen councillors will make their decision at a meeting on Monday before going ahead for ratification of the full council at the end of November.

The county's director of education, Mike Barker, says the schools to be retained should be Llandinam, Howey near Llandrindod Wells, and Bro Cynllaith school at Llansilin near Llanrhaeadr-ym- Mochnant.

But schools at Libanus, Trecastle and Llangurig are being recommended for closure from August 2005.

Councillors will be asked to back a plan to replace Glanrhyd, Gurnos, Cwmtwrch and Ynysgedwyn schools in the Ystradgynlais area and build two new primary schools on the Glanrhyd site.

I think they were impressed by the state of the building and one councillor even asked if he was at the right school Janet Watkins, Trecastle school governor

They will also be asked to back the council's plan to build an area school at Llanrhaeadr-ym Mochnant.

But if Llansilin school is retained Llangedwyn school would have to close to make the building of a new school viable.

Threatened

Councillors conducted a tour of the threatened schools on Monday and Tuesday.

Janet Watkins, the chairman of Trecastle governors, said she felt very positive after meeting the committee.

"The council's report said that the school's windows were beyond repair, which is inaccurate," she said.

POWYS SCHOOLS IN DANGER Llangurig Llandinam Libanus Trecastle Howey Gurnos Glanrhyd Cwmtwrch Ynysgedwen Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansilin Llangedwyn One school in Welshpool

"Most of the windows have been replaced in the last six years so it was good for councillors to see the true situation.

"I think they were impressed by the state of the building and one councillor even asked if he was at the right school."

The 12 mainly rural schools are under threat following a review of the county's primary schools which found they are too big for the number of pupils they serve.

Harry Hughe, who represents Llansilin and Llangedwyn, said: "I am delighted that the council wants to retain Bro Cynllaith school."

"It was a ridiculous idea to transport pupils more than 12 miles to school at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant.

"But Llangedwyn needs to be kept open as well.

"Five years ago that school only had 13 pupils but the headteacher has worked wonders to build up the school roll to more than 50."

But according to Mr Hughes, the £2m cost of building a new school at Llanrhaeadr-ym -Mochnant would be feasible only if it had more pupils, such as those currently at Llangedwyn.