A MONMOUTHSHIRE councillor has hit out at plans by the authority to close two primary schools - both in areas of deprivation in the county.

Councillor Giles How-ard has expressed his shock at the proposals and has vowed to fight with the governing bodies of Clydach and Llanelliy Hill schools to try and prevent their closure.

The Argus revealed on Friday that the schools were among ten throughout the county - nine of them in the Abergavenny area - earmarked for closure by the local education authority.

Councillor Howard said:"I understand there is a need to address the fact that, in the Abergavenny area, surplus places in primary schools amount to 25 per cent. "However what has been overlooked is its unique nature. That means there are no easy solutions to the geographical and social isolation of Darenfelin School, Llanelly Hill, or Clydach.

"We should bear in mind that these two villages represent some of the deepest pockets of deprivation in Monmouthshire.

"Taking away the only thing they have left will not just add the final nail to their coffins, but push them six feet under as well."

He has produced a four-page response to the council's strategic education review and intends to circulate it to all the councillors who will be responsible for the final decision at the end of the ten-week consultation.

He added: "If I have to grovel to the other members, so be it, but I do not want anybody to say that we have left any stone unturned in our protest."

He said that the plans to send the children from both schools to either Gilwern or Govilon primary schools did not take into account that the A465 Heads of the Valleys is due to be closed for some time for dualling and therefore it would be difficult for a bus to get to those schools.

He also said that the cost of running two buses equals the maintenance costs of both schools.

The campaign to save the schools is gaining momentum, with a public meeting planned for Llanelly Hill and Clydach tonight in their village halls at 7pm. There will also be a meeting about Llanover primary at its village hall on Saturday, 5.30pm.