MEMBERS of Sandy Lane PTA have gained the support of Caldicot town council in their fight to save their school.

Monmouthshire county council are currently reviewing the schools in the Severnside area, with intentions of discontinuing infant and junior schools and only having primary schools in the area.

As part of the shake-up plans Sandy Lane has been earmarked to close and be replaced with a Welsh medium school. A new 410 pupil school is also to be built in the town, with the remaining three primaries hosting 210 pupils.

The PTA also suggested the town council support a call for four 210 schools, as the majority of residents and councillors agree a 410 school is far too big for the town.

At a meeting of the town council last week, members considered a letter appeal from Sandy Lane PTA asking them to support their fight to save their school.

The letter read: "Sandy Lane not only provides fantastic skills with there main stream pupils, it also offers exceptional provision towards children with special educational needs.

"Over the years, defying the reduction of numbers of children, we continue as a PTA to grow. Although we do not live in an affluent area of Caldicot the funds raised have been evidence in themselves that the passion and support is higher than ever towards one goal - that is to make Sandy Lane the very best it can be."

The letter concluded: "Surely it would also benefit the community that a well established and highly successful Infants school should not be closed but merely extended to a primary school status."

Members of Caldicot town council agreed the town would better benefit by having four 210 primary schools, disregarding the proposal for a new 410 build as being too large.

l Members of Sandy Lane PTA yesterday held a protest stall at the town's market to rally the support of the local community to save their school. School governor Cllr Dave Evans said there had been a terrific response to their petition, with more than 600 signing and a lot more names expected.

The petition is to be taken to the Welsh Assembly.

Among those signing was a Welsh school parent, who said they did not want to move into Sandy Lane, they wanted a purpose-built, new school.