A PUBLIC meeting is being held at a Pontypool primary school today, which faces closure.

Pontnewynydd Primary is under threat from proposals as part of the 21st Century Schools programme, which aims to tackle issues of ageing buildings and surplus school places in Torfaen.

Pupils and parents took part in a silent protest against the plan outside the Civic Centre in Pontypool, in September, while pupils have also handed in letters and a DVD appealing for the idea to be scrapped.

The meeting is being held between 9.30am and 11.30am, with officers from the council expected to attend to answer questions. All comments will be recorded and included in a consultation process which runs until December 16.

Pontnewynydd is currently Torfaen’s only sector leading primary school, according to school’s inspectorate Estyn which rated it outstanding in all but two fields, where it was rated good. It is currently Torfaen’s best performing primary. But the closure proposal sets out that children will be accommodated at Penygarn School, from September 2015.

A copy of the Pontnewynydd Primary School Consultation Document is available at https://mysay.torfaen.gov.uk