GOVERNORS at Ysgol Meidrim in Carmarthenshire have published a counter-proposal to the council’s plan to close the village school, as the six-week public consultation gets underway today (Jan 16).

The start of the consultation had originally been scheduled for Tuesday (Jan 13) but was delayed after the council had not completed the Welsh-language translation of the consultation documents in time.

In a message to the Chair of Governors, Ann Jones, the council’s Chief Executive, Wendy Walters, confirmed the consultation period would begin today (Jan 16). It is expected that both the Welsh and English versions of the consultation document will appear on the council’s website.

In response, the school’s governors have released their own 73-page counter-proposal, developed since the cabinet decision in November to proceed to consultation.

The governors’ plan is to secure a viable long-term future for Ysgol Meidrim by developing the school, outside teaching hours, as a Community Hub. The document includes research and a cost-benefit analysis, along with a list of potential funding sources to support the project.

The proposal, however, depends on the school remaining open and based on the current premises, with governors arguing that the school is essential both as a focal point for young families and as a key part of the funding model.

Alongside the main document, the governors have also published a supplementary paper which sets out alternative savings the council could make — claiming it could reduce education spending by around a quarter of a million pounds without closing community schools.

Supporters say they now want the six-week consultation period to be used for detailed discussions between council officers and governors, with a view to reaching a positive outcome.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, Sian Straczek, of Meidrim, said: “As school governors at Ysgol Meidrim, we were very disappointed that we have not been given a proper chance to explore all future options for the school with council officers.

“The statutory code requires the council to have explored with us all options before proposing closure — otherwise the ‘presumption against closure’ of village schools becomes meaningless.

“We have worked hard on this carefully-costed counter-proposal to develop our school as a valuable community hub out of school hours, and hope that we will now be given the opportunity during the consultation period for practical discussions with officers in a spirit of co-operation.”

The governors have also launched a campaign logo — “Mlaen Meidrim” (“Forward Meidrim”) — as well as a campaign video highlighting the school’s importance to the local community.

On behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Sir Gâr, Ffred Ffransis said the council’s own figures suggested the financial case for closure was weak.

He said: “The council’s own figures show that there will be 39 pupils at Ysgol Meidrim in two years, and that the total saving from closing the school — after deducting additional school transport costs — is only claimed to be £13,000 a year.

“If such a school is closed, then 20 more rural Welsh-medium schools will be under threat, in a total annihilation of our rural communities.

“The governors at Meidrim, all volunteers, have produced an amazing document and deserve a proper hearing, not just the standard negative written responses. Their counter-proposal could be an exciting pilot project — both in community-based primary education and in the wider revival of Welsh-speaking rural communities.

“Over the last decade Carmarthenshire County Council has been far more open in its discussions than was previously the case, and our hope is that there will now be positive, two-way discussion rather than the usual sterile negative responses.”

A 65-YEAR-OLD man who admitted stealing more than £27,000 from a registered charity has been given a suspended prison sentence after appearing at Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 15).

Howard Davies, of Carmarthen, pleaded guilty to defrauding Llanddarog and District Agricultural Society while acting as its treasurer. The court heard the offending took place between July 2018 and February 2024, with Davies admitting stealing £27,552.

Davies attended court aware that a custodial sentence was a likely outcome, and it was noted he arrived with a packed bag, indicating he expected to be sent to prison.

In mitigation, his barrister said Davies did not seek to minimise the seriousness of the offence and described his behaviour as “out of character”. The court was told his wife only became aware of the fraud after police became involved.

The defence also told the court a cheque had been prepared to repay the charity’s committee members, but said Davies had been unable to hand it over earlier because his bail conditions prevented him from contacting them.

“There is no reason why he could give the cheque today,” His Honour Judge Geraint Walters said.

The judge was highly critical of Davies’ conduct, describing him as a “crook and fraudster”. The offence was assessed as a Category 3A case.

After applying full credit for an early guilty plea — resulting in a one-third reduction — the court imposed a sentence of 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. Davies was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid unpaid work in the community.

Davies had previously appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court in December, where he admitted fraud by abuse of position. The case was then committed to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

YOUNG musicians from across the area are being invited to take part in the next stage of Narberth and Whitland Rotary’s annual Young Musician Competition.

The first round of this year’s contest was held at Bethesda Chapel in Narberth, with Rotary members thanking the performers, judges, parents, teachers and caterers for supporting what they described as an excellent evening of local talent.

The Round 1 winners were instrumental performer Lleucu Haf Thomas, who played grand piano, and vocalist Max Morris. Both are students at Ysgol Bro Preseli.

The next round, bringing together winners from other first-round competitions, will take place at Bethesda Chapel on Wednesday (Jan 21), starting at 6:30pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.