Carmarthenshire secondary school mergers backed
Plans to merge four comprehensive schools in Carmarthenshire into two have been given the go ahead.
The county council will start formal proceedings to replace Pantycelyn and Tregib schools in the Tywi Valley with a new build.
The executive board also agreed to merge two schools in the Gwendraeth Valley - Maes yr Yrfa at Cefneithin and Ysgol y Gwendraeth in Drefach.
The Welsh Government will have the final say if there are any objections.
The council has secured £23.7m from the Welsh Government to build a new school to replace Pantycelyn in Llandovery and Tregib near Llandeilo and will add £5.9m from its budget.
But many parents, pupils and staff at Pantycelyn are against the plan as it is likely the new school will be in Ffairfach near Llandeilo - about 15 miles away.
They say the new school should be built at a location between the two towns with a site near Llangadog suggested.
Executive board members voted unanimously to move ahead with the changes.
Statutory notices will be published in September.
If there were formal objections Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews would make the final decision.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said he would take into account all evidence provided by the council and objectors.