Decision on schools' merger next week

Councillors are expected to give the green light on Tuesday to the amalgamation of two Newtown schools.

Powys County Council's Cabinet meets on 7 January to consider plans to merge Ladywell Green Infants School and Hafren CP School.

However, while the plans to merge the schools in September 2021 are expected to be approved, there have been calls on the council to ensure the plans for a new school building form part of a wider scheme to bring a new hospital to the site.

There are plans to establish a new local health hub within the site off Park Street that are currently being considered and have already attracted funding from the Welsh Government.

A consultation on the plans attracted 16 responses. Of these, 63 per cent agreed to the merger. Twenty-five per cent were against it.

Councillors will vote on it before a statutory notice is published at the dn of the month if approved.