A VALE town faces more than £1 million a year economic loss if a school closure is given the go ahead, it has been claimed.
The controversial plans to close St Brigid’s School in Denbigh and merge with Blessed Edward Jones in Rhyl have been met with stiff opposition from parents and pupils at the Denbigh based school.
But now a survey, carried out by the St Brigid's Action Group, claims the impact of this closure will also affect the pockets of local businesses.
The survey, taken by 100 parents at St Brigid’s, found an average spend of £243 per month in the town.
Extrapolated to a circa £100,000 per month when the 400 plus shoppers, parents, teachers are taken into account, the spending figure turns into more than £1 million per year.
“Some 87 per cent of this is likely to leave should the school close,” said St Brigid's Action Group spokesman Nigel Townsend.
“The reason for this is that so many pupils at the school come from outside of Denbigh, so the school is the only reason those people are there.”
Some 78 per cent of parents said they would not attend a merged school outside the current Denbigh site.
Denbigh town councillor Mark Young, who also owns Denbigh Chocolate Shop said: “These figures show how decisions like this can't be made in isolation.
“As a town councillor and a businessman I am very concerned that closing St Brigid's could have a devastating impact on businesses in Denbigh.
“Our town has lost enough already. Quite simply it can't afford to lose £1 million a year.”
Plans for the future of faith education in Denbighshire began back in December, which if put into action could see the two schools merged into one at a new
location.