Ysgol Talwrn school closure consultation “wasn’t fair” claim campaigners

An Anglesey school’s last chance of survival is being hampered by Covid-19 restrictions, it is claimed, amid calls to postpone the final decision.

December saw Anglesey Council’s Executive vote to publish a statutory notice on the closure of Ysgol Talwrn, planning to amalgamate the school with Llangefni’s Ysgol y Graig.

Such plans would see the 38-pupil school close after the new block at the Llangefni primary is completed by the summer of 2023, blaming issues including the discrepancy in the cost per pupil and the improved facilities that would be on offer.

But according to some parents the recent consultation – the final step in formalising the school’s closure – is “not being held fairly” due to ongoing social distancing restrictions.

According to the island’s Senedd Member, who held a virtual meeting with campaigners, such restrictions and the inability to gather face to face have “hindered their ability” to oppose Anglesey Council’s plans effectively.

As a result, despite the statutory consultation period ending last week, fresh calls are now being made on the authority to postpone the consultation process amid claims that the system has “not been open enough,” and being “pushed through” at a time where children are being taught from home and groups cannot meet in person to raise their concerns fully.

Rachael Jones, a child minder from Talwrn said she believed the school should have a bright future.
“The school has recently been ranked ‘Green’, the Cylch is busy and my small business is busy as a result,” she said.
“I’m worried about the effect that closing the school will have on my business, but my real worry is for the impact it will have on our community.
“I know that some parents are not enrolling their children at the school due to the threat of closure.”

The island’s MS, Rhun ap Iorwerth, added that he had already asked the council to delay the plans until the other side of the pandemic was in sight, but was told that the process “couldn’t be delayed forever.”
“At a time where we’re very limited in what can be done to oppose the proposed closure of Ysgol Talwrn, campaigners have contacted me desperate for a fair opportunity to have their voices to be heard,” he said.
“Whilst I appreciate that the Council must deal with matters other than Covid-19, here we have a community unable to fully engage in the consultation process – they can’t meet face to face, they tell me that covid restrictions, coupled with poor internet connection for many, has hindered their ability to meet virtually, and as a result they feel like a community ‘on mute.”

“Repeated consultations are bound to leave scars on a community, and the fact that opportunities to make the community’s voice heard are currently so limited adds to the feelings of unfairness.
“I will continue to call on the council to consider every option open to them, and will be writing to them again following this meeting to express the depth of feeling.”

With the Executive expected to make a final decision on March 15, a council spokesman pointed out that the process has already suffered several delays due to the pandemic, having been originally set to finish in June 2020.

He added, “Responding to the emergency and keeping the people of Anglesey safe continues to be at the heart of the day to day work of officers. As a result a number of important projects, including school modernisation, were delayed.
“However, it cannot be delayed forever, especially as we do not know how long the pandemic will last.”

He went on to note that the authority had followed Welsh Government guidance while wanting to invest in the future of children and young people in Anglesey.
“As part of this programme, the council must ensure that children receive their education in buildings that are suitable for the 21st Century, buildings that are in the correct place, that satisfy the needs of pupils and staff and that help to promote high standards and that protect the Welsh language”

Recognising the frustrations as a result of the pandemic, partially met thanks to virtual meetings, he concluded: “The number of objections received to the proposal (during lockdown) were higher than the number received in the past. Also, more responses were received to the consultation than were received in 2020 and 2018.

“It could therefore be argued that more responses and objections were received during the lockdown than in the period before the pandemic.
“The council believes that it has been considerate and sensitive in the way it has dealt with the lockdown period and that it has provided stakeholders with sufficient time to be able to respond despite the pandemic situation.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter