PARENTS in Bettws and Malpas were devastated by the news that four schools in the areas are being recommended for closure.

Malpas Park Primary, Millbrook Infants and Millbrook Junior, and Don Close Nursery are earmarked to close under plans agreed by cabinet yesterday.

The council expects to save £280,000 a year from any closures, but new builds and extensions could cost more than £8m.

The decision is not final yet, but closing the four schools is now officially the council's preferred course of action.

Councillor Bob Poole, cabinet member for young people's services, said falling pupil numbers left the council no choice but to consider closures.

Joyce Stevens, chief financial officer, said: "Surplus places cannot be ignored. They are a drain on council resources and so affect other people."

The council gets cash for each pupil, and a shortfall in Bettws and Malpas by 2006/7 will mean a drop in income of £354,000.

Councillors heard that by 2006/07 Millbrook Junior and Infants have predicted classroom occupancies of just 40 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

Combining the two Millbrook schools with both Monnow schools and Don Close Nursery on the Monnow site will save the council £192,000 a year.

To cope with the changes it plans to spend £5m on a new junior school on the Monnow site and a further £1.5m developing Monnow Infants School.

Councillor Glyn Jarvis, a governor at Millbrook Junior, questioned whether the council would have the cash when it faces replacing arson-struck Rogerstone Primary and run-down Durham Road Infants and Junior Schools, while Bettws councillor Lloyd Delahaye wrote to the cabinet, saying the whole matter had been "handled badly by the previous administration".

Sue Graham, a PTA member of Bettws Close, said: "Children from this end of the estate will have to travel much further. It's not fair on the younger ones." Mike Colborn, a parent-governor of Millbrook Junior, said: "The estate is split in half between those who prefer Monnow and those who prefer Millbrook. We need to keep two sites."

Jason Jordan, 31, also a parent-governor, said: "Any new school should be built centrally. And what will happen to the teachers here when the school closes?"

Parent Laura Habard, 37, of Millheath, said: "This school has been here for many years and parents think it's good. Why do we need more flats or houses here? Parents will fight this."