SUPPORTERS of a Welsh speaking primary school are marching 70 miles to deliver a message to councillors just days ahead of a crucial vote on its future.
Gwynedd's full council meets on Thursday, July 15 to vote on recommendations to close Ysgol y Parc in Bala, but members of Welsh language group Cymdeithas yr Iaith began protesting on Sunday.
The group set out on a 70 mile walk to the council offices in Caernarfon where they plan to hand over a giant postcard with hundreds of signatures from people fighting to keep Ysgol y Parc open.
Cymdeithas Education spokesman, Ffred Ffransis said: "In view of this renewed threat to this and other Welsh-medium schools, we shall take to the road again.
"It fills us with sadness that it is now our own council who seem willing to betray this Welsh-speaking community.
"Along the way, we shall be visiting other communities in Gwynedd and Conwy who are living in fear of losing their schools."
They plan to reach Caernarfon for a rally outside the Council HQ at 1pm on Thursday and hand the postcard to councillors before they vote.
Signatures were also collected at the rally before they set off, named Tryweryn 2010, at the Llyn Celyn dam, which was organised by the Parc School Defence Committee.
The committee said the location of the rally was a poignant reminder of the community, destruction and flooding of Capel Celyn and to warn the council they are now threatening to destroy an adjacent Welsh-speaking community by taking away the school which forms part of a unique school/community partnership upon which the village thrives.
Parent and governor at Ysgol y Parc, Dylan Davies said: "I have three children attending the school and the standard of education they receive is that of the highest standard, a fact that has been recognised by Gwynedd County Council but yet they still proceed with their plans to close our school.
"The school is an important part of our community, with many community activities relying on the school being open. Here in Parc, many traditional activities that go hand in hand with rural life are very much alive.”
Secretary of the committee Penri Jones, who was also headmaster at Ysgol y Parc from 1974 to 1984, said he expects over 50 people to meet in Caernarfon.
“It's a viable school. Parents wish to see it being retained as it provides excellent education..every community has the right to a community school especially for the younger children,” he said.