A PONTYPOOL head teacher has called for an end to the consultation process into the proposed closure of a secondary school.

West Monmouth school head Peter Phillips blasted Torfaen education chiefs for a "lack of imagination" in the plans for the future of closure-threatened Trevethin Community School.

Torfaen council is holding a series of public consultations into the future of the school, preferring an option to close it and move pupils to West Monmouth and Abersychan schools.

They say Trevethin is no longer viable after pupil numbers dropped to below 400.

But even though his school would have a £6 million investment under the plans, Mr Phillips said they have not been thought through properly.

He tackled Torfaen director of education Mike De Val at a consultation meeting at West Monmouth school on Tuesday.

"There seems to be a lack of imagination about how sensitive this issue is," said Mr Phillips.

"If we are serious about the regeneration of North Torfaen we need to offer quality education.

"But the council have gone for the quick and dirty option and said 'we will close the school'.

"Why does Trevethin have to pay the price?

"I don't think this is a consultation exercise at all. We need to stop this."

Peter Scott, head of Abersychan, also criticised the consultation process, saying he was: "fed up with it".

Last year his school faced closure as part of the plans to build a 'superschool' in Pontypool, but under the new plans Abersychan could also be given a £6 million investment.

"I don't know which direction I'm supposed to be going in," said Mr Scott. "The frustration is nothing has happened."

"I want a decision made as soon as possible because the whole issue has been dragging on for about four years.

"It is very destabilising for my school and very frustrating for my staff.

"We need urgent investment and we can't wait for that investment any longer."

Mr De Val denied the consultation had not been thought through, and said the council had a "hard decision" to make regarding the future of secondary education in north Torfaen.

He said the closure would not be forced through, and all views in the consultation would be put to Assembly education minister Jane Davidson, with whom the final decision rests.

"We have arrived at a preferred option but that does not mean that the council cannot change its mind," he said.