A CONSULTATION over closing the only Roman Catholic school in Brecon and Radnorshire is to get underway.

A public meeting will be held at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Aided School in Brecon, on Tuesday, November 27 when Powys County Council will explain the reasons why it believes the school should close.

The authority's cabinet agreed in early October to hold the consultation, the necessary first step of closing a school.

The closure has been opposed by parents who have formed an action group to fight for retention of the Llanfaes school and who presented a petition to the cabinet before it agreed to begin the closure process.

Powys council said its formal consultation period will open on Tuesday, November 20.

The public meeting will be held at the Silver Street school at 7pm on Tuesday, November 27.

The proposed closure follows a council review of the school, prompted after a significant fall in pupil numbers in recent years and the high costs per pupil at the school compared to others.

Parents claim uncertainty since May, when it was revealed talks were being held between the council and the Roman Catholic Diocese over closing the school, has contributed to falling roles.

The council's cabinet member for education, Councillor Myfanwy Alexander claimed: "Difficult financial times mean challenging choices have to be made but the authority is clear that the learners of St Joseph's will be provided with excellent education elsewhere in Brecon."

Interested parties have until Friday, January 4, 2013 to voice their opinions by writing to Mr Stephen Rogers, Head of Schools, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG (for the attention of Mr Owen James) or by emailing [email protected]">[email protected].

Following this formal consultation period the council's cabinet will decide whether or not to issue a Statutory Notice of Closure for the school. Doing so would trigger a further opportunity for local people to voice their opinions on the closure.

Copies of the consultation document will be available online from Tuesday, November 20 http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=3275&L=0&quot">http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=3275&L=0" target="_blank">click here to go the council website or call Josephine Thomas on 01597 826730 for a paper copy.