FEARS have been raised that Beaumaris could be the only town in Wales left without a primary school following a controversial council decision.

On Monday, the Isle of Anglesey County Council Executive approved plans to use the Beaumaris Primary School as the site for an "Extra Care" facility for the Seiriol ward.

However, more than 1,000 people signed a petition calling on Welsh Education Secretary Kirsty Williams to block the threat to the primary school and urging the council reconsider.

The statutory consultation period on the school's future closed on Tuesday, February 6.

A statement by the Beaumaris School Consultation Response Committee, a group of parents and community members, said the Executive had "disregarded" alternative recommendations of the council's own Scrutiny Committee, to re-consider establishing the development on the site of Haulfre, a council owned residential home in Llangoed, and to use

parts of the school’s grounds in Beaumaris for social housing.

Councillor Lewis Davies said: “This decision is very disappointing. Most people in Beaumaris and the area want a smaller school on the site and some of the land to be used to build affordable housing to keep young people in the town.

"Instead, the council is creating a town of empty

summer houses and a lot of older people. Why spend over £8m developing the Ysgol Beaumaris site and not spend over £1m on adapting Haulfre?

"We will continue to challenge the decision and make sure the views of the community are heard. Most importantly, we will do whatever we can to stop Beaumaris from becoming the first town in

Wales without a primary school."

Mayor of Beaumaris Jason Zalot said: ""I feel that Anglesey council has seized on a

minority point of view to champion their cause in what was, as I said at a recent public meeting, a

done deal. The council is not listening to the voice of the people."

Gabriel Eichsteller, vice chair of the BPSCRC, said: “...there is huge resistance to having the Extra Care facility on the school site. Our own community impact survey with over 200 responses showed that only 5% of respondents support the decision.

"The Executive has clearly disregarded the voice of the community and insufficiently considered the impact on young families."

Emma Taylor, chair of Beaumaris Primary School’s Board of Governors, said: “In response to the consultation, the governors developed a range of positive options to address the council’s challenges whilst protecting

the school. "

The Executive is expected to decide on the school consultation in March.