The Labour cabinet of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council gathered for an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, April 30, during which elected officials examined outcomes from a community consultation exercise concerning the possible closure of a primary school facility in Abertillery. The initiative seeks to address surplus capacity at Abertillery Learning Community, an educational establishment catering to pupils aged 3 to 16. Under this arrangement, the Roseheyworth primary school campus would shut its doors upon completion of the 2027 academic year in August, decreasing the institution’s overall pupil places from 980 to 770 commencing September 2027, thereby tackling significant financial difficulties confronting the school. Education portfolio holder Cllr Sue Edmunds, member for Ebbw Vale South, led councillors through the consultation report, presenting public opinion regarding the proposal. The consultation window, running from March 2 until April 14, attracted 751 questionnaire responses, with 704 participants—accounting for 94 percent—expressing disapproval of the plan, while 33 respondents, representing four percent, gave their full backing, and the remaining 14 contributors, making up two percent, indicated partial agreement. Several alternative options surfaced during the consultation, encompassing reducing the size of three primary-phase buildings; restructuring the three campuses to operate as lower, middle, and upper educational phases, incorporating early years and post-16 provision; and allocating pupils across sites to achieve more balanced enrollment figures. Cllr Edmunds remarked that the consultation exercise failed to uncover any workable alternatives capable of fulfilling the proposal’s objectives. She observed that the consultation uncovered substantial opposition, particularly from parents, local residents, and school personnel, and that the council acknowledges the strength of these concerns. Nonetheless, she stressed that the council maintains its view that closing the campus constitutes the most suitable and realistic solution, describing progression to the next stage as both warranted and advised. The subsequent procedural stage involves a 28-day period for submitting formal objections. Cllr Tommy Smith, representing Sirhowy and serving as cabinet member for neighbourhood and environmental services, sought explanation concerning decision-making competence. He highlighted that the current gathering was not for approval but rather for advancing the matter, given that full council holds ultimate decision-making authority rather than the cabinet. Cllr Edmunds confirmed that proceedings would move forward to the statutory notice stage, with all paperwork to be supplied to full council prior to their deliberation. Head of school transformation Joanne Watts informed the cabinet that should they endorse progression, the objections period would begin on Tuesday, May 5 and end on June 6, with correspondence thereafter informing a report to full council. Council leader Cllr Steve Thomas, representing Tredegar, sought to reassure impacted families that no immediate changes would transpire, as the determination would be made during a summer council meeting. The cabinet subsequently voted unanimously to progress the matter. The document indicates that ALC, operating with an annual budget of £11.1 million, currently faces a projected shortfall of £898,000, which without action would rise to £1.7 million by March 31, 2027. Forecast savings from closing Roseheyworth across five years would amount to roughly £2.2 million. Founded in September 2016 and termed a “super school,” ALC was created through the merger of Roseheyworth Road, Six Bells Road, and Tillery Street primary schools together with Abertillery Secondary School.