Outdoor education cuts short-sighted says council leader
A council leader has accused three neighbouring authorities of being "short-sighted" over the demise of an outdoor education service.
A centre at Talybont, Powys, will close after Newport and Torfaen scrapped funding for the Gwent Outdoor Education Service Partnership, with Blaenau Gwent saying it would follow suit.
Monmouthshire council will keep centres near Monmouth and Abergavenny open.
Council leader Peter Fox said it was a valuable service which enriched lives.
The four councils have been in partnership since 1996 to provide reduced-cost outdoor education at three centres - Hilston Park near Monmouth, Gilwern Outdoor Centre near Abergavenny, and Talybont Outdoor Centre in Powys.
But funding has been slashed by two-thirds from just over £340,000 in 2012/13 to £112,000 in 2017/18.
This resulted in a deficit in four of the past five years, a report by Monmouthshire council officers said in December.