Fury as school earmarked for homes
Furious residents claimed they have not been listened to over the future use of their closed village school.
Despite 1,300 objections, the historic Ysgol Pontfadog, in Mid Wales, closed its doors in July 2019.
Wrexham County Borough Council this week granted planning permission for affordable housing to be built on the site with the demolition of the school building.
The decision has been criticised by a group from Pontfadog, in the Ceiriog Valley, who had hoped to keep the building open for community use.
A community-led proposal was made to create a Forest School and Community Hub on the site.
It aimed to provide a wide-range of services to the community, including a forest school, which would be used outdoor education.
The plans also included using the building as a community hub with allotments and community garden, as well as a Saturday produce market, green space and children’s play area, cafe, and an office and enterprise centre including desk rental.
Kirsty Williams, head of the forest school and community hub committee, said: “The whole community is completely up in arms. We are shocked and angry that we have not been listened to. Even from the consultation results it is clear to see there was much more support for the community hub and forest school proposal than there was for housing.
“Educating children outside has become even more important in light of Covid and there was something for everyone in the community hub.
“What was the point of a consultation if the result had already been decided from the beginning?”
A final decision was made by Wrexham Council’s executive board, in 2018, to close the 18-pupil school, as part of a restructuring programme across the Ceiriog Valley.
