After Cllr Aaron Wynne, Cabinet Member for Education, Conwy County Borough Council, presented a report to the Education Committee on 4/11/2025 with the aim of commencing a consultation on the potential closure of Ysgol Betws-y-Coed, the Committee voted to support the proposal by Cllr Liz Roberts to defer the decision.
7 Councillors voted in favour of deferral, 2 abstained, 4 were against, and 7 did not vote.
The Committee’s vote to defer will now be presented to the Cabinet who will decide whether to listen to the recommendation or not.
A public meeting took place at Betws-y-Coed Memorial Hall on Monday 27/10/2025, where there was strong opposition to the possibility of closure, and around 1,000 have signed a petition.
During the Committee meeting it was disclosed that both Janet Finch-Saunders MS and Betws-y-Coed Community Council had sent formal correspondence to the Local Authority raising serious concerns about the content of the report being considered also.
Commenting after the vote to defer, Janet said:
“I highlighted formally to the Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Aaron Wynne, before the Committee meeting that the decision should be delayed because of serious concerns about the content of the report prepared for the meeting. My concerns were dismissed.
“I understand that Betws-y-Coed Community Council was sent an inadequate response too, and applaud them and all residents who have been presenting letters and emails to the Local Authority raising concerns.
“Considerable thanks must go to Cllr Liz Roberts. Last night she did a marvellous job highlighting to all Committee members during the meeting serious concerns about the report, and the process followed by the school governing body to recommend Betws-y-Coed be considered for closure instead of Dolwyddelan or Capel Garmon.
“Importantly, the Committee members should be making decisions based on accurate and all information. I think we have, as a community, proven that this has not been provided.
“Whilst Cllr Aaron Wynne, Cabinet Member for Education, was not prepared to listen and act on concerns about the report before the meeting, I hope now that the whole Cabinet of Conwy County Borough Council will act on the recommendation of the Education Committee: defer the decision!”
ENDS
Photo: Result of the vote to defer
