Campaigners are stepping up their call to save a cherished North Herefordshire village school threatened with closure next year.
The community has pledged its support for Dilwyn C of E Primary School and all those concerned with the preservation of the county’s small village schools are urged to attend a public campaign meeting at the Cedar Hall in Dilwyn on Wednesday, September 15, at 7.30pm.
Posters have gone up throughout the area pressing the point that small schools such as Dilwyn are ‘vital to our heritage and affect us all in Herefordshire’.
In their battle to save the school, campaigners emphasise that ‘numbers count’ for their public meeting.
In July, there was dismay at Herefordshire Council’s recommendation that the school should close with effect from August 31, 2011.
Supporters pointed out that proposals had been put forward for federating Dilwyn, a faith school, with St Mary’s RC High School at Lugwardine. In a report prepared by the high school, it stated that there were ‘clear, long-term benefits to families and communities in North Herefordshire as well as to both schools’.
After county councillors voted in favour of a recommendation for closure of the school, which has a current roll of 31 pupils, governors, staff and parents were at a loss to understand their decision in the light of plans already drawn up to boost population and affordable homes in Herefordshire.
Chairman of the governors, Brigadier John Spackman said there was a very strong community spirit at Dilwyn.
“We are trying to oppose the proposal and support from the community is enormous and solid,” he said.