Madam,

I write in response to the article entitled ‘Loss of school play area lets residents down’.

There are many inaccuracies and accusations made by Juliet Price, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Padarn ward in the forthcoming county council elections, which I wish to clarify.

She claims that “Current Llanbadarn county councillors were part of the administration that decided to close Cwmpadarn School and, following a recent council decision to sell the school, they have once again let down their residents”.

Whilst accepting that Cllr Paul James and I were part of the council administration when the decision was made, both of us voted against the closure of the school (see Ceredigion County Council minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 available at https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/English/YourCouncil/CouncillorsCommittees/Minutes/Pages/Council.aspx).

In fact we fought very hard to keep the school open and led the calling-in of Ceredigion council’s Cabinet decision to close the school.

What Mrs Price has conveniently forgotten to mention is that her husband, Andrew Price, was a governor of Cwmpadarn School at that time and was involved in the discussions that took place with the local education department so should be fully aware of the efforts we made to maintain education at Cwmpadarn.

She also wishes to see part of the school grounds bequeathed to the children of Llanbadarn Fawr for a safe play area. When Cwmpadarn School was open, the headmaster was happy for the children of Brynrheidol to use the playground out of school hours.

Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet has made a decision on commercial grounds to sell the school as one parcel of land. Llanbadarn Fawr Community Council did not express any interest in the property as there wasn’t an expression of interest from anyone locally.

I am aware that a local yoga group has expressed an interest in Cwmpadarn School and discussions with Ceredigion County Council have commenced and I am happy to give them assistance in any way I can.

Llanbadarn Fawr does have a playground and field (maintained by the community council) that is available for community use close to the Vale of Rheidol railway line. I accept that this is not ideal but it is not too late to make representations to the community council to approach Ceredigion to lease part of the school playground at a peppercorn rent for community use.

It does not surprise me that Juliet Price, as a candidate at the county council elections, has decided to attack and criticise Llanbadarn Fawr county councillors, who have a proven track record of putting the interests of the residents of Llanbadarn Fawr first and foremost.

Yours etc,

Cllr Gareth Davies, Padarn Ward, Ceredigion County Council.

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