Petition and protests fail to prevent closure of small rural school near Tegryn

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has voted to close Ysgol Clydau despite strong opposition from parents and residents who argued the rural school plays a vital role in the local community.

Councillors approved the closure at a full meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on Thursday (Mar 5), following a consultation process that drew hundreds of responses and a community campaign to save the small rural school near Tegryn.

Addressing the chamber, Cllr Guy Woodham acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue.

“Any proposal to close a school is emotive,” he told councillors, noting that the report before members summarised consultation responses and the council’s responses to concerns raised by parents, residents and other consultees.

One of the most frequently raised issues during the consultation was the role the school plays in local identity and community life. Respondents argued that rural schools often act as a focal point for their communities and help sustain village life.

However, council officers said that while the school contributes to community identity, it currently hosts relatively few community activities. They pointed out that nearby Carnarvon Hall already provides a venue for a wide range of classes and events and could continue to do so if the school closes.

It was also suggested that the school building itself could potentially be used for community purposes if another organisation or group expressed an interest in taking it over.

Concerns were also raised about the potential impact on pupils with additional learning needs (ALN). Parents said the small size of the school provides a nurturing and personalised environment that may be difficult to replicate in a larger setting.

Council officers acknowledged those concerns but said pupils could also benefit from the wider range of resources, specialist staff and development opportunities available in larger schools.

A transition plan will be developed to ensure individual pupils’ needs are identified and supported during and after the move to another school.

Transport and travel times were another major concern raised during the consultation, with parents highlighting longer journeys for pupils and questioning the suitability of arrangements for younger children.

The council said pupils who meet eligibility criteria will receive free school transport, with routes and pick-up arrangements designed with safety and age considerations in mind.

Some respondents also argued that alternative solutions, including federation with other schools, had not been fully considered.

Officers said a number of alternative proposals were examined during the consultation process but were not considered viable.

Residents also raised concerns that planned housing development opposite the school could increase pupil numbers in the future.

However, council forecasts suggest the development would generate only around two additional pupils, which officers said would not significantly affect the school’s viability.

Some parents indicated they might consider home education if the school closes, particularly those with children who experience anxiety or require additional support.

The council said it would provide information and support to help families make informed decisions and ensure they are aware of Welsh-language education options available elsewhere.

Questions were also raised about the financial case for the closure and whether projected savings adequately accounted for increased transport costs and other factors.

Council officers said the financial assessment presented to councillors includes those additional costs.

Some respondents also questioned the fairness and transparency of the consultation process, suggesting the outcome had already been decided.

Officers rejected that suggestion, stating that the consultation had been carried out in accordance with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code and that the final decision rested with councillors.

Pupils’ views were also gathered during the consultation through two sessions facilitated by a school improvement adviser, with responses recorded anonymously and included in the consultation report.

The proposal to close the school has been strongly contested over the past year. A petition opposing the closure received more than 600 responses on the council’s website, triggering a debate at County Hall, while campaigners warned the loss of the school would “pluck the heart out of the community”.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies previously criticised the proposal, describing Ysgol Clydau as a crucial part of the local community and warning that closure could have a significant impact on the area.

Council figures show pupil numbers at the school have declined in recent years, forming part of the authority’s wider review of education provision and surplus school places across the county.

Despite the concerns raised, councillors voted to approve the closure.

Further details about the timeline for the closure and arrangements for pupils currently attending Ysgol Clydau are expected to be confirmed by the council.

A HISTORIC former lifeboat has found a new home in Pembroke Dock after being donated to the West Wales Maritime Museum.

The vessel, R.N.L.B. Pentland (Civil Service No. 3), was formally handed over during a small ceremony on Saturday (Mar 7) attended by museum representatives and civic leaders. The lifeboat has been gifted by Rev Mike Brotherton, a former Royal Navy serviceman, who previously owned the vessel.

The handover took place with the boat positioned on the slipway, where supporters and volunteers gathered to mark the occasion. The donation ensures that the historic vessel will now be preserved and displayed as part of the region’s maritime heritage.

Rev Brotherton, who has maintained and cared for the boat during his ownership, said he wanted the vessel to remain in a place where its history could be appreciated by the public.

Also present at the ceremony were Chris Barlow, chairman of the West Wales Maritime Museum, and the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Cllr Michele Wiggins.

The event included a symbolic presentation involving a folded Union flag, marking the formal transfer of the vessel into the museum’s care.

Chris Barlow welcomed the donation, describing it as an important addition to the museum’s growing collection of maritime artefacts and historic vessels.

He said the Pentland represents an important part of Britain’s lifeboat heritage and will help tell the story of the bravery and dedication of lifeboat crews who risked their lives to save others at sea.

The vessel is a classic RNLI lifeboat design from the mid-twentieth century and was originally built to operate in demanding conditions. Lifeboats of this era were designed for strength and endurance, often launching into severe weather to carry out rescue missions.

Over the decades, boats such as the Pentland played a crucial role around the British coastline, responding to ships in distress, fishing vessel emergencies, and other incidents at sea.

The arrival of the Pentland at Pembroke Dock strengthens the maritime connections of the town, which has a long and proud naval and shipbuilding history.

Pembroke Dock was once home to one of the largest Royal Dockyards in the world and later played an important role in aviation and naval operations during the twentieth century.

The West Wales Maritime Museum works to preserve and share that heritage through its exhibitions, artefacts, and historic vessels. Volunteers continue to develop the museum’s collection and encourage visitors to learn more about the region’s strong links to the sea.

Cllr Michele Wiggins said it was fitting that such an important vessel should now be based in Pembroke Dock, where maritime history remains a central part of the community’s identity.

The Pentland will now be cared for by the museum and is expected to become a feature attraction for visitors interested in lifeboat history and the story of coastal rescue services.

Museum volunteers hope that the donation will also help raise awareness of the RNLI’s long tradition of lifesaving work around the British Isles.

With the lifeboat now safely transferred into the museum’s care, plans are being considered for how it can best be displayed and interpreted for the public.

For the West Wales Maritime Museum, the arrival of the Pentland marks another step in preserving the rich maritime heritage of Pembrokeshire for future generations.

Images: Martin Cavaney/Herald

Tributes have been paid to the woman described as the “heart and soul” of a well-known Pembrokeshire family farm following her death this week.

MARGARET DAVIES, affectionately known to many simply as “Mama”, passed away after a lifetime spent building and supporting the family business at Cuckoo Mill Farm.

Mrs Davies founded the poultry enterprise in 1958, starting with just three turkeys. Over the decades she grew the small venture into a well-known local business supplying poultry to families across the county.

Alongside farming, she also ran a farmhouse bed and breakfast for more than fifty-five years, welcoming guests from across the world and serving home-cooked three-course meals prepared on the Aga.

Family members said her work ethic and warmth made her the driving force behind the farm for generations.

For more than half a century Mrs Davies personally handled every Christmas turkey order, worked at farmers’ markets, and helped keep the busy farm kitchen running smoothly.

Visitors to the farmhouse often found the kitchen full of activity — the phone ringing with orders, stuffing being prepared for turkeys, potatoes boiling on the Aga, and white coats hanging ready for the next day’s work.

Despite the long hours and busy seasons, especially around Christmas, Mrs Davies was known for rarely complaining.

Her favourite saying summed up her outlook on business: “It’s when the phone doesn’t ring — that’s when we have a problem.”

As well as running the farm, she was known for her friendly and welcoming personality. Television and radio crews who visited the farm were often invited straight into the kitchen to film or record interviews.

“She was always so agreeable to fun,” her family said in a tribute. “If we said the TV crew were coming, she would just smile and say, ‘Well, why not? Bring them in!’”

Mrs Davies is remembered as a hardworking and inspiring woman who led by example and took pride in providing quality produce and excellent service to customers.

Today, the farm continues to operate under the next generation of the family. Granddaughters Emily and Beth now help run the poultry side of the business, while grandsons Danny and Joe continue the dairy enterprise started by their grandparents.

Many of the farm’s loyal customers now span several generations themselves, with families returning year after year for their Christmas turkey.

Her family said they are determined to carry forward the values she established.

“As we celebrate Mama’s life, we will continue working to carry forward her wonderful legacy and everything she stood for.”

Funeral details will be announced once confirmed.