TORFAEN’S Labour politicians have joined forces to speak out over the Labour-led council’s decision to close two borough schools.

On Tuesday, the cabinet of Torfaen council voted in favour of closing Abersychan Brynteg Nursery and Victoria Village Primary schools.

Lynne Neagle AM and Nick Thomas-Symonds MP have met parents from the two schools, walking the suggested route to Garnteg from Abersychan which has raised concerns with parents.

In their joint statement, they said: “We are obviously very disappointed that cabinet voted in favour of the recommendation to proceed with the closure of Abersychan Brynteg Nursery and Victoria Primary Schools.

“As the local AM and MP, we will continue to do all that we can to help represent and voice the concerns of all parents and children affected by this proposal and we will both be responding to the statutory notice to outline and reiterate those concerns.”

During the discussion at the Torfaen cabinet meeting, councillors remarked on the safety concerns for children and parents who may end up going to Garnteg from the schools in Abersychan.

A second consultation over the traffic measures around Garnteg is planned with the Torfaen politicians asking constituents to have their say.

“We feel that it’s also important to highlight that anyone wishing to object to the proposals must do so (again) during the statutory notice period as this is another opportunity to make those feelings known,” they said.

Last week, Ms Neagle and Mr Thomas-Symonds expressed an interest in meeting the council to discuss the matter directly ahead of the decision from the cabinet.

“The executive member for education, councillor David Yeowell, has always facilitated a discussion when we have wanted to put our case,” said Ms Neagle and Mr Thomas-Symonds.

“We were offered a meeting following the publication of the cabinet papers last week but were told that officers would not be able to enter a dialogue and only be able to listen so we did not think that it would be useful at this stage.”

A spokesman from Torfaen council said: “The next stage in the process is the publication of the statutory notices. The start of that process will be publicised and during that notice period, people will have opportunity to object to the proposals.”