ABOUT 450 people have turned out at public meetings to voice their anger over plans by Mon-mouthshire county council to close up to 11 schools.

The meetings were organised by the council to give local people the chance to question the biggest shake-up of education ever seen in the area.

The meetings were chaired by Councillor Peter Fox who said: "The most important message to get across was we are listening to people and no decisions are being taken." The highest turnout was 300 in Abergavenny where the council is proposing to build some new schools but where, if the proposals are adopted, ten schools would close. Among these are the village schools of Cly-dach, Darenfelin, Llanellen, Llanover, Llanfoist and Llanfair Kilgeddin.

Parents and governors have all vowed to fight the plans. They say the schools are at the very heart of their communities and many of the villagers have already lost their post office and shop.

In Abergavenny campaigns by parents at Croesonen Infants and Park Street Infants, which will both close if plans go ahead, have been gaining momentum, with a petition by Croesonen school signed by more than 1,000 people, and a car sticker campaign planned by Park Street parents.

There were around 100 people at the Caldicot meeting where the council proposes to change West End Infants, St Mary's Junior and Sandy Lane Infants into 210-place all-through primary schools and to close Green Lane Junior.

In Chepstow, where the issue revolves around the balance of places at three primary schools, about 50 people attended.

There were a small number of people at the Monmouth meeting where there are plans to amalgamate the junior and infant schools at Osbaston and Wyesham and to provide more nursery places at Overmonnow.

There will be a second round of public meetings held on Saturday mornings, and the first will be next weekend at King Henry VIII Comprehensive in Abergavenny and Monmouth Comprehensive. They will be followed on Saturday, May 11, at Chepstow and Caldicot Comprehensive schools.

*PICTURED: Llanfair Kilgeddin School is earmarked for closure.