Consultation on plans to close 4 Catholic schools is to go ahead

A CONSULTATION on plans to close four Catholic schools in Flintshire and create a super-school in Flint has been given the green light by councillors.

- By ALEC DOYLE Local Democracy Reporter

Flintshire County Council's Cabinet has voted to open a statutory consultation on the plans, drafted by the Diocese of Wrexham and the local authority. If approved the proposals would see the closure of St Anthony's Catholic Primary in Saltney, St David's in Mold, St Mary's in Flint and St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School.

Replacing them, on the site of St Mary's and St Richard Gwyn in Flint, will be built a £55m Catholic super-school for pupils aged three to 18.

The Welsh Govern-ment's Sustainable Communities for Learning programme will fund 85% of the building, with 15% coming from the sale of the land St David's and St Anthony's schools currently stand on.

The move will force Catholic pupils from Saltney to either travel 14 miles to school each day or face moving to schools in Shotton or across the border in England instead.

Pupils from St David's will have to travel six miles each day with no alternative Catholic schools available.