THE CLOCK is ticking on the future of Manorbier Church in Wales VC School as Pembrokeshire County Council debates a decision that could lead to the school’s permanent closure.

Dozens of parents, residents and campaigners gathered outside County Hall in Haverfordwest ahead of today’s meeting (Thursday, March 5), in a last-ditch effort to halt the proposed closure. Their placards read “Save our school” and “Rural schools matter”. 

Inside, councillors sat debating the school’s future, which has served the community of Manorbier since January, 1877.

The council report outlines the results of a statutory consultation on a proposal to discontinue the school altogether. Councillors must now decide whether to proceed with the closure process, abandon the proposal, or significantly change the plan and consult again.

Fire and temporary classrooms

Manorbier School has been operating from Jameston Community Hall since the fire destroyed large parts of the original building in October, 2022.

The historic school building was already considered to be in poor condition before the blaze, according to the council report. Ownership of the building lies with the St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance.

Council officers argue that closing the school could represent better value for money, noting that nearby schools have spare capacity and that maintaining or rebuilding the facility may not be financially viable.

If councillors authorise the next stage, the Director of Education will publish a statutory notice proposing the discontinuation of the school, triggering a further 28-day objection period before a final decision is made.

Strong opposition from community

The consultation process revealed overwhelming opposition to the closure proposal.

A total of 252 responses were submitted, with more than ninety per cent opposing the plan to discontinue the school. A petition has also been submitted, signed by more than 1,500 people.

Many respondents described Manorbier as a small, nurturing school particularly suited to pupils who need additional support. Others warned that closure would damage the community and reduce the attractiveness of the area for young families.

Campaigners have also questioned the council’s financial arguments and believe insurance money from the fire should be used to rebuild the school.

Concerns were also raised about transport, with parents warning that narrow roads and longer journeys to alternative schools could create safety issues and undermine efforts to encourage sustainable travel.

However, a smaller number of respondents supported the proposal, arguing that pupils could benefit from larger schools with broader extracurricular opportunities and wider friendship groups.

Jobs also at risk

If the closure eventually goes ahead, staff positions at the school could be at risk of redundancy, although the council says efforts would be made to redeploy employees wherever possible.

Council officers maintain that discontinuing the school would provide a more sustainable model for education provision in the area, taking into account the condition of the buildings, available school places and overall value for money.

For parents protesting outside County Hall, however, the issue is about far more than finances.

They say losing the school would mean the loss of a vital community asset and could change the character of the village for generations to come.

The council is expected to decide whether to proceed with the statutory notice in the coming weeks. If it does, the final decision on the future of Manorbier School will return to councillors later this year after the objection period has concluded.

CAMPAIGN group ‘PARC Against DARC’ – launched in 2024 in opposition to the proposed US military radar installation at Brawdy – is calling for a county wide response to the official consultation on DARC Radar. 

As part of statutory public engagement obligations, London Based PR corporation Cascade Communications announced the opening of the public consultation on February 22, which will close four weeks later on March 22. They say the MOD will then submit an official planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council after which the local authority is expected to run its own public engagement and consultation process with agencies, stakeholders and the general public.

As a result, PARC Against DARC has launched what they describe as ‘a massive community led response of opposition’ which offers several ways of actively opposing the plans.  They are urging people to visit the consultation page on their website www.parcagainstdarc.com and take part in the consultation response via what they describe as ‘an accessible action-tools with simple one-click’ options to email the consultation and register opposition to the Radar plans. Emails can also be sent to Cascade Communications at: [email protected] directly.

The campaign group has already made significant inroads to stalling the plans in its first two years, with Plaid Cymru and the Green Party firmly supporting the campaign at national Party levels. Thirty eight elected politicians have also supported motions in both the Senedd and Westminster opposing the plans, with many pledging to escalate opposition through parliamentary procedures in both Cardiff and Westminster.

A spokesperson said: “There is already a massive momentum of opposition to this dangerous radar which if ever built would unquestionably be the most powerful, most high-radiation installation ever imposed on British soil. With residents a stone’s throw away from the edge of the base, the MOD’s absolute stone-cold refusal to publish any data for public scrutiny is disgusting, and we deserve better from our government, and the Labour Party. 

“When questioned about this and thousands of studies showing health risks, all the MOD does is trot out one widely-criticised research group that ignores the modern research body on radiation and is under intensive military lobbying influence, and expects residents here to shut up.”

PARC Against DARC claims their petition has been signed by over 18,000 people,while local politicians have pledged to fight the proposals in the High court.

“This is set to be a serious ‘vote killer’ in the upcoming Senedd elections this May,” said the spokesperson.

Council votes to discontinue Ysgol Llansteffan after months of opposition

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has approved plans to close Ysgol Llansteffan, despite a sustained campaign by parents and community supporters to keep the village school open.

The decision was confirmed at a council meeting held today (Wednesday, March 4).

Under the plans, Ysgol Llansteffan will close on August 31, 2026, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain from September 1. The existing catchment area currently served by Ysgol Llansteffan will also be absorbed into the Ysgol Llangain catchment.

Parents and guardians will still be able to apply for places at other schools in Carmarthenshire through the council’s usual admissions process.

The school was identified for closure under Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, approved by Cabinet on November 18, 2024. Officials cited extremely low pupil numbers, a high number of surplus places, and financial pressures including a projected deficit budget.

Council leaders also noted that many children living within the school’s catchment area already attend other schools, limiting demand for provision in the village.

Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Glynog Davies said the decision had been difficult.

“The decision to close Ysgol Llansteffan is difficult for everyone involved and it is with sadness that this has been agreed,” he said.

“Following a robust process, the discontinuation of Ysgol Llansteffan will enable the school to combine with Ysgol Llangain to provide safer staffing, the wider sharing of the Welsh language among pupils and a more sustainable rural community.”

Campaigners’ concerns

The decision follows months of opposition from parents and campaigners who argued the case for closure was flawed.

The school’s Parent Teacher Association, supported by Welsh language campaigners, had urged councillors to delay the decision, saying important evidence remained unresolved. Campaigners also raised concerns about the language impact assessment used to support the closure proposal.

Parents argued that pupil numbers had recently increased and that projections used by the council were outdated. They said the school roll had risen earlier this year, challenging claims that numbers would remain extremely low.

During the consultation process, the council received more than 200 responses, with the majority opposing the closure. Residents raised concerns about transport arrangements, the potential impact on pupils’ wellbeing, and the effect on the wider village community if the school were lost.

Supporters of the school also argued that small rural schools play an important role in maintaining Welsh language use and community life, warning that once the village school is lost it would be unlikely to reopen.

Despite these objections, councillors ultimately approved the proposal, meaning Ysgol Llansteffan will close at the end of the summer term.