STAFF, governors and parents of pupils at Oakdale Comprehensive say they are devastated that consultation to close the school is now to begin.

More than 20 parents and staff attended a meeting of Caerphilly council's cabinet yesterday to hear members agree to proposals that could see Oakdale close in 2007 due to falling pupil numbers in the area.

The Argus revealed the controversial plans for secondary school reorganisation last week.

Yesterday Oakdale councillor and governor Allan Pritchard implored the cabinet to remove the school from the consultation process.

He argued the school had been turned around since 'dynamic' head teacher Ian Kilcoyne took over 20 months ago - and said the recent GCSE exams showed Oakdale as one of the most improving comprehensives in the entire county borough.

He said 'scant regard' was paid to the fact that additional houses had been built or are in the process of being built in Oakdale.

"Oakdale is the fastest growing community in the whole of the county borough," he said.

Councillor Pritchard added the proposal would also take away the community college and that a youth club operated on the school site.

"We have just completed a multi-use games area on the site at a cost of around £85,000. It has not yet been officially opened."

Cabinet members voted almost unanimously in favour of the proposal to consult on closing the school, which currently has 183 surplus places with 680 pupils on roll.

Afterwards Councillor Pritchard said: "The fight starts here."

Parents said they may now consider taking children who have just started at Oakdale out of the school, rather than face their education being disrupted later.

Julian Reg has a son in year 7 and said he stayed in the Oakdale area so his son could attend the school.

He said: "We should have been told about this before the school year started. The children are now really unsettled."

Amanda Braddon, who has a daughter in year 7 and a son in year 11, agrees.

She said: "My daughter is devastated.

"We looked at all the schools and chose Oakdale Comprehensive because we thought it was the best. This is a stressful enough time as it is, with her starting a new school."

Consultation will now begin and should be finished by the October half term. The final decision will be made by March 2006, and if it is decided to go ahead with the plans the school will close in September 2007.