Leaders of the Dyfed local authorities failed to discuss the future of the region's rural Welsh-medium schools with Cymdeithas yr Iaith at the National Eisteddfod on August 3.

Pembrokeshire County Council is closing Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn. At the same time, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, and Gwynedd County Councils have all been attempting to close rural Welsh-medium schools.

The campaign group held a brief panel discussion with Carmarthenshire County Councillor Jean Lewis and others, before moving on to Pentre'r Garreg Las (the three county councils’ official presence on the site) to seek answers from the leaders of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Carmarthenshire County Councils.

The leaders of all three councils were invited to respond, but they abstained from engaging with Cymdeithas yr Iaith on the issue.

Cris Tomos, Chief Executive of PLANED and one of the panel speakers, said:

"I believe we need to push the Welsh Government to think more creatively and with a longer-term vision. We are proud that Wales has the world's first Future Generations Act. Well, our future generations are right here in front of us. And what are we doing? We are shutting them out of their own communities.

"I sincerely hope that a Plaid Cymru-led government will follow through on its vision and its promises, and will work to protect, preserve, and reopen small rural schools in the decades ahead. That is what I am asking of them. Let us work together for the future of our Welsh-speaking communities."

Ffred Ffransis, speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said:

"It is completely outrageous that the leaders of the three councils refused to speak with us. As Gwynfor Evans said, Wales is ‘a community of communities’, and every time we lose a community, we lose a part of Wales."