Saved school row

In a stinging letter to Ms Davidson, Councillor John Turner said he was "dismayed and disappointed" by her decision to reject the council's decision to close the school.

He branded the minister's decision "partial, cavalier and flawed."

In the letter Councillor Turner takes issue with the reasons given for the decision and says the local education authority has demonstrated a sound case for closure on the grounds of cost and efficiency.

Ms Davidson argued the LEA had failed to assess the need to provide denominational education in the area and that spare capacity at the school could be removed by the removal of demountable buildings at the site. But Councillor Turner hit back, claiming her views reflected a "lack of understanding of the complexities of calculating spare capacity". He claimed that even if the demountable accommodation was removed it would still leave the school with 25 percent spare capacity. Councillor Turner also insisted provisions had been made in the council's proposal to provide alternative denominational education.

And he claimed the majority of parents living in Ponthir chose to send the children to Caerleon schools.

Referring to Ms Davidson's assertion that none of the surrounding schools could accommodate the Ponthir pupils, Mr Turner writes: "Not only is this factually incorrect but there is no legal requirement for displaced pupils to be dispersed to just one school."

There were reports last week of calls for Ms Davidson to resign from campaigners for Pentwyn Primary, which will close in July.

Councillor Turner said those campaigners saw the Ponthir decision as one "driven by middle class and church interests rather than any objective evaluation of our case."

Ponthir governor and parent, Howard Thompson, said: "It's very disappointing to hear these comments."

An Assembly administration spokesman confirmed Ms Davidson had received the letter but said she could not discuss decisions after they had been made.