Brecon and Radnorshire Conservatives are calling on the Welsh Liberal Democrat and Welsh Labour led administration at Powys County Council to stick to their election promises and come clean with Powys residents.
During the run up to this year’s County Council elections in May, LibDem and Labour candidates campaigned to keep primary schools open and even went as far as committing to keep them open if they took control of the authority at the elections. As residents in Brecon and Radnorshire were so passionate about keeping our primary schools open, LibDem and Labour candidates won enough seats to take control of the council, but since then the two parties have committed what has been described as ‘the biggest local election betrayal in recent history’.
Within a matter of days following May’s elections, it became clear the LibDem/Labour coalition were not going to stick to their promises at all. They announced they would carry on with proposals to close Cradoc Primary School and merely delay the closures of Llanbedr and Llanfihangel Rhydithon (Dolau) primary schools for 1 year. On revealing this news, Cllr Pete Roberts, the leader of the Council Cllr James Gibson-Watt and their coalition colleagues deliberately misled children, parents, teachers, and staff at the two schools facing a 12-month delay, by giving them the impression the two schools may remain open. Sadly, following several email exchanges and questions to Council officers, Cllr Iain McIntosh has managed to get to the truth.
Cllr McIntosh said “I can’t believe the LibDems and Labour have done this. Not only have they betrayed the public, but they’re also now deliberately misleading people too by giving false hope about the education of our children. Council officers have confirmed that Cradoc, Llanbedr and Dolau schools will still close next year. Members of both parties, including Cllr Pete Roberts, took part in protest walks to keep these schools open, now they’re doing this? It’s disgusting, they should be honest with residents and stick to their promises, or resign.”
Council officers have confirmed the judicial reviews launched to fight against the closure of Llanbedr and Dolau primary schools have been unsuccessful, but Cradoc Primary School is still waiting to hear about their legal challenge. Other than that, the only way the three schools will remain open beyond next year is if the Liberal Democrats and Labour carry out their election promises.
