WILLIAMS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON FUTURE OF POWYS SCHOOLS

1.12.06pm GMT Tue 26th Jan 2010

Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams, is to hold public meetings this week to discuss Powys County Council's proposals for school modernisation and the future of secondary and further education in Breconshire and Radnorshire.

The meetings will take place from 7pm at the Town Hall in Talgarth, near Brecon, on Thursday 28th January and from 6.30pm at The Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells on Friday 29th January.

Commenting on the meetings, Mr. Williams said:

"Clearly, the recent leak of an early draft paper on possible models for the future of secondary and further education in Powys has provoked widespread concern across the county. Apart from allowing constituents to air their concerns, I hope that these meetings will also provide an opportunity for open discussion about the legislative and financial pressures faced by the County Council and how best it can secure a sustainable future for the secondary and further education systems in the uncertain times ahead."

"But the proposals raised a number of major issues, such as the need to ensure fair access to wide range of learning for all learners of all ages, which need explanation and public discussion, before the Council develops its proposals any further. The Council needs to take the people with it in all this and understand people's fears and desires before coming forward with ideas. I hope the meetings will provide a forum for discussion and a means for constructive ideas to be fed in to the process."

Kirsty Williams AM is due to attend the meetings and Mr. Williams will also be inviting local and county councillors.