SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is backing a parent’s action group who are planning a protest march over plans to close their school in Mold.
Mr Rowlands, who is totally against the proposals, will be joining protestors this Saturday as they march from the school to the Daniel Owen Centre to highlight their campaign to save St David’s Catholic Primary School from closure.
This week Flintshire County Council was due to open a consultation into its plans to close four schools and merge them into one ‘superschool’ for pupils aged 3-18 from 2026 to 2029. They include St Anthony’s Catholic Primary in Saltney, St David’s in Mold, St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School and St Mary’s in Flint.
He said: “I share the concern for this controversial proposal and I am determined to support my constituents who would be affected by such a plan and urge people to come and join us on the protest march.
“I recently met with Emma Baker, Chair of Governors, at St David’s in Mold, who spoke to me about her frustrations over the proposals to close the school.
“It is a real shame when local communities have to resort to these sort of measures just to get their voices heard and I hope everyone affected will make sure they take part in the consultation.
“It has already been reported in the local press that TV personality, Paddy McGuinness is supporting a campaign to keep St Anthony’s open in Saltney and I echo his sentiments.
“It is extremely sad to hear about any plans for schools closing as it also affects the livelihoods of teachers, staff, and many local businesses which depend on the school community.
“I am also a firm believer in keeping schools local and I do not think merging four local schools into one “superschool” is the right way forward.”
As part of the Council’s school modernisation programme, investment has been identified in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Wrexham and Welsh Government. The proposal would amalgamate several schools and create a new a school.
Following an assessment of all existing sites, the proposed new school will be developed on the existing sites of St Richard Gwyn and St Mary’s in Flint.
The consultation was due to open on April 28 and will run until June 9.
