County councillors have voted to close three village schools in Ceredigion.

Cllr Marc Davies had spoken out against a plan to close Ysgol Cilcennin, in his ward, but at full council on Friday, 24 May, he said that finances forced the decision.

Ceredigion County Council voted to close Beulah, Clicennin and Trewen schools because of falling pupil numbers and increasing costs.

In the case of Trewen there were 19 votes in favour and 11 against.

There was a move to keep Cilcennin open until a new area school for the Aeron Valley was developed to avoid children having to move school again but the amendment was not passed.

Local member Cllr Marc Davies said: “It’s a very sad time for Cilcennin, for the whole community.

"It’s a small village, the pub has closed, we haven’t got a Post Office or anything, the only thing left was the school and the heart is taken from the village.

“The numbers speak for themselves. At the end of the day it’s the money that makes the decision for us.”

Beulah’s local member Cllr Lyndon Lloyd said the “Welsh language is under siege” in south Ceredigion with a lack of children resulting from older people moving to the area.

Cllr Lloyd said: “The situation is if you close the school there will be nothing left apart from Beulah Chapel and Merched y Wawr to maintain the Welsh language.

“The parents have fought a very hard battle but a very fair battle to save the old school.”

Cllr Lynford Thomas agreed saying: “The villages are dying, the communities are dying in my opinion.”

Numbers could be increased at Trewen said Cllr Lloyd, with Cllr Wyn Thomas backing a call to kept the school open, who added that the fall in pupil numbers had been very sudden.

There had been 17 forms submitted listing Trewen as a preferred school option, the meeting was told.

The building is newer and more suitable to remain open other councillors argued.

“It’s a vibrant school with excellent facilities,” said Cllr Lloyd.

Beulah, Trewen and Cilcennin schools have been under threat of closure for some time and following consultation they remain recommended to be shut by Ceredigion County Council.

Despite local objections the three schools will not reopen for the next school year in September.

The council is now planning to create a larger ‘area school’ in the Aeron Valley for the pupils of Ciliau Parc, Dihewyd and Felinfach schools.

A site for the new school is to be decided but it is planned to be for around 210 pupils aged three to 11, Welsh medium, with the introduction of nursery and community provision.

Concerns raised include increased travel times for some pupils, disruption to children and the loss of facilities from villages.

Cabinet members were due to meet on Tuesday and have been recommended to commence a statutory consultation on today.