COUNCILLORS want plans to close Builth Wells and Llandrindod high schools to be abandoned.
At a special full meeting of Powys council at County Hall members voted to recommend the authority should abandon its plans to close the two schools and replace them with one new school operating from the two existing sites.
The full council has asked those plans be put aside to allow the schools, their heads and governing bodies up to two years to look at alternatives.
However the vote, which was passed by 32 votes to nine, isn’t binding. It is a recommendation to the independent-run council’s nine member cabinet which is due to make a decision on the fate of the schools when it meets on September 27.
Cabinet member for education, Councillor Arwel Jones is now expected to consider the vote of the full council when considering what recommendations to put forward to his cabinet colleagues.
At present Cllr Jones intends asking the cabinet to support the plan to close both schools in favour of one new school on two sites. The cabinet did not take part in this mornings vote.
The meeting in Llandrindod Wells is continuing with the full council due to consider a recommendation the council abandon its previous proposal that Brecon and Gwernyfed high schools should be replaced with one new school in Brecon.
The council will also discuss its views on proposals Llanbister Primary School should be saved from closure but Llanfihangel Rhydithon Primary in Dolau should close. Final decisions will be taken by the cabinet.
The meeting is being webcast and can be viewed at http://powys.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/240626