A WREXHAM school is losing pupils and struggling to recruit staff following the closure of a major road for more than two years.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Wrexham Council was going out to tender for contractors to tackle the repair of the B5605 Newbridge Road.

The road has been closed since January 2021 when heavy downpours during Storm Christoph during the storm caused part of it to collapse down an embankment.

It serves as a busy route for local people and also acts as a diversion from the A483 bypass.

READ MORE: Residents slam time taken for Newbridge road repairs

Claire Rayner, head teacher at Ysgol Min y Ddol in Cefn Mawr said the situation has been "frustrating for everyone involved."

She explained: "The road closure has caused issues for the school; mainly the lack of pupils and the effect on punctuality and attendance.

"Of course, the closure has meant a longer diversion for the parents and if there are any issues on the diversion route it's a longer trip again.

"We have lost some pupils. Before the road closure I had 128 and now I have 115.

"I'm not saying that's directly linked to the closure, but it's worth thinking about because I haven't had any applications for children from Chirk since then."

And Mrs Rayner said fewer pupils means a tighter budget for the school, adding: "It does impact on the school budget.

"It means I don't have as much money to employ staff and provide for the children as I normally would.

The Leader: The B5605 Newbridge Road. Source - Wrexham Council. (Image: Wrexham Council)The B5605 Newbridge Road. Source - Wrexham Council. (Image: Wrexham Council) (Image: Wrexham Council)

"And it has an impact on staffing as well - I do have staff from the other side of the road and they often have issues getting in.

"That's not their fault; it's issues with the road.

"And we have had difficulties with recruiting because of the situation as well.

"The other thing we have to be mindful of is the parents and how much more it will be costing them to bring their children to school; it is additional money they may not have.

"We have liaised with Cefn Mawr Community Council and they are aware of the struggle.

"They do listen and take it forward but their hands are tied as well.

"It's frustrating for everyone involved."

READ MORE: Wrexham Council goes to tender for Newbridge road repairs

Mrs Rayner said the decline in pupils at her school will also be impacting national targets to increase the number of Welsh speakers by 2050, and the diversionary routes have seen a "massive increase" in vehicles in areas which would not normally see such levels of traffic.

Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for environment at Wrexham Council, told the Leader: "The final tenders are currently being evaluated and we hope to make an announcement in the next seven days or so.

"We appreciate the problems and inconvenience it has caused and we are working as fast as we possibly can, but we have to follow the legal tendering process - we can't shortcut that.

"We are not sparing any effort to get it done but because of the nature of the work, it's a highly complex tender and so we need to make sure we get it absolutely right."