TORFAEN council’s cabinet has approved proposals to close two borough schools - Victoria Primary and Abersychan Brynteg Nursery – in 2017.

Councillors voted seven to one in favour of the plans, with the only objection coming from cllr Gwyneira Clark, an Abersychan ward member.

Prior to the meeting, parents and pupils congregated outside the civic offices in Pontypool with banners of ‘Save Our School’ and other messages of opposition.

“We are totally devastated that they are doing this to our community and our children. We are all just gutted at the moment,” said Victoria parent Chris Tew, 50, who lives next door to the school.

“If they think that they can just walk right over us, well that’s not going to happen. We will fight this and there are ways in which we can do this.”

As part of the recommendations, pupils from the two closing schools will attend either Cwmffrwdoer or Garnteg primary schools, with the latter located around one mile from Abersychan.

The decision to begin the procedure to close the two Torfaen schools in September 2017 is part of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme.

Cllr Gwyneira Clark, the only cabinet member to oppose the plans, confirmed that while she supports the programme, communities cannot have ‘their hearts rip out’.

“Abersychan ward consists of six communities and each of them values and has its own identity. In losing Brynteg Nursery and Victoria Village, it is something which will rip the heart right out of the community,” she said.

“We cannot in Abersychan just be seen as a route to Blaenavon. We must maintain the identity of our community.”

Parents stated their discontent at the potential danger posed by the route to Garnteg, a point raised during the council meeting by the cabinet as well.

Garndiffaith resident Liz Tingay, 20, of Stanley Road, who lives near to Garnteg, claims the proposed main route is an accident waiting to happen if the number of children is increased.

“It’s an absolute health risk. The amount of accidents that could and will happen, if more children take the main proposed route, is unthinkable,” she said.

Councillors on the cabinet, including deputy leader of the council Anthony Hunt, were keen to seek reassurances from chief planning officer, John Tushingham, that safety would be considered as of paramount importance, particularly at Garnteg.

The executive member of education, cllr David Yeowell, moved to allay fears, announcing that consultation periods will open to ensure that safety of those attending the new schools, particularly Garnteg, is fully considered.

“There will be a consultation and further deliberations concerning the situation at Garnteg. The geography of that area is such that we need to consider all our options in that respect,” he said.

However, parent from Victoria Steph Williams, one of the driving forces behind the opposition of the plans, claims that safe routes to Garnteg do not exist.

“I would like to invite all the councillors back out to do the walk and the alternative walks which were suggested by Cllr Yeowell, which he says there are,” she said.

“I would like them to show us that there is an alternative. We know full well there isn’t one.”