COUNCILLORS will be lobbied by dozens of angry parents today over controversial plans to shut village schools. Denbighshire council's ruling cabinet will discuss whether to ask the public their views on the proposals. But locals claim the scheme - to shut or merge 14 schools - will devastate communities and affect their youngsters' education.. The council says it is under Assembly pressure to tackle surplus places, with an expected 1,600 empty school desks by next year. Cymdeithas yr Iaith is also urging the authority to look at communities using rural schools, in a bid to keep them open. Council finance spokesman Paul Mar-fleet has denied it is a cost-cutting exercise. In a letter to community councillors in his own wards of Cyffylliog, Llanrhaeadr and Nantglyn, he said: "It is a very difficult problem. "If we as a council vote against a programme to address these issues, we may suffer financial penalties from the Welsh Assembly Government at a time when we are already struggling to find enough funding for maintenance work in schools. I understand there are even some circumstances in which we can be overruled on our decision," he added.. Mr Marfleet said his cabinet role would take second place to of a local councillor. Elfed Lloyd, whose children are pupils at threatened Ysgol Rhewl, said it was clear finance was a major consideration. Among the most fierce opponents of the programme is Clwyd West MP Gareth Thomas who yesterday called on Denbighshire's chief executive Ian Miller and council leader Rhiannon Hughes to think again. "If it was not such a serious matter for the schools, parents and rural communities under threat, this whole saga would be farcical," he said.. "It is ridiculous to launch a consultation on this draconian school closure programme when it is obvious the cabinet is completely split on the issue. No reasonable chief executive or leader would push through this consultation due to the fact it does not even have cabinet support," said Mr Thomas.. Cymdeithas yr Iaith is also urging councillors to consider all options, including making cost-effective use of the school buildings, before agreeing to any closure. "We ask you to take positive advantage of the great groundswell of community interest to explore the uses to which the buildings can be put out of school hours, and also community uses for surplus parts of the buildings," said the society. The final decision will be made by the full council some time in May. garethhughes@dailypost.co.uk | 
