Gwynedd council votes to close five primary schools

The schools reorganisation in the county has led to a number of protests

Gwynedd council has voted to close five primary schools in the Tywyn area as part of a reorganisation process.

Ysgol Abergynolwyn will close by 31 March 2011 with Ysgol Bryncrug, Ysgol Llanegryn and Ysgol Llwyngwril closing during the school year 2013-2014.

Plans to close Ysgol Aberdyfi by 31 August 2013 were also backed subject to improvements at Ysgol Penbryn.

The meeting voted for a consultation on a new area school to open during 2013-2014.

Following the full council meeting on Thursday, statutory notices are to be issued detailing the proposals, which were backed following a consultation.

The local authority said it has £5.5m of Welsh Assembly Government funding to build the new school

Councillor Liz Saville Roberts, who leads on education for Gwynedd council, said the £7.9m project will also improve facilities at three other existing schools within the catchment area.

She said: "The aim of this strategy is to ensure that the area's young people are educated in modern facilities which offer them every possible opportunity to fulfil their potential."

In October, the council changed the planned location of the new school in the Bro Dysynni catchment area.

Legal advice

The original site was near Talybont. An alternative on the outskirts of Llanegryn was being examined.

In the meantime, Llwyngwril school supporters have sought legal advice on the council's closure process.

They have vowed to fight to keep the 29-pupil primary school open as they say children's education will suffer, and they do not want them bussed to a community school still to be built.