NEARLY 2,000 people have signed petitions against plans to close an 'iconic' primary school in Torfaen.

Torfaen council is looking at shutting Victoria Village Primary in Abersychan and Abersychan Brynteg Nursery in autumn 2017.

The proposals come under the Government-led 21st Century Schools Programme seeking to improve facilities for pupils and reduce the number of surplus school places.

Torfaen Mayor Giles Davies, cabinet member Gwyneira Clark and parents have also attacked the plans.

Today, cabinet members rejected their pleas and moved to start a formal consultation on the closures.

Torfaen council shut another school in Abersychan, Pentwyn Primary, in 2006.

Victoria School mum-of-two Stephanie Williams suggested that it was ripping the heart out of the community.

She said: “They have done it once and are prepared to do it again.”

Torfaen Cabinet heard today that around 1,400 people had signed a paper petition and about 500 had put their names to an online petition against the closure plans.

Under the proposals, children from the primary and the nursery would be accommodated at refurbished Cwmffrwdoer and Garnteg primary schools.

Cabinet member for housing, planning and public protection, Cllr Gwyneira Clark, urged her colleagues to defer proposals to begin the formal consultation, but no one seconded her motion.

The Abersychan ward councillor argued that routes to Garnteg and Cwmffrwdoer schools would not be safe enough for the children.

Mayor Giles Davies, who also represents the Abersychan ward, said: “It’s terrible. They should have listened to Gwyneira.

“It is a much loved school in the heart of the community. Why close it?

“I’m quite shocked. I thought they would have deferred it and listened to the community.

“As a ward councillor I am disgusted.”

Torfaen council said it would invest £8m to upgrade Cwmffrwdoer and Garnteg primary schools.

Education Cabinet member, Cllr David Yeowell, commended parents for raising awareness of the closure of Victoria School but suggested the building was not fit for purpose.

He said: “It is an historic, iconic building in that sense but is it fit for the purpose of the 21st Century School Programme, no it isn’t, and that’s the major criteria for its consideration for closure.

“This has to be seriously considered and I hope it will go through because we have a duty under the 21st century schools provision and programme to provide the best kind of education we can.”

Torfaen Cabinet is to receive a new report on the proposed closures in January.