NATIONAL Park leaders have made an impassioned plea to education bosses to help them stop villages dying by ensuring primary schools are kept open.

Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority were told ten schools are currently under threat because of falling numbers, and a major campaign is already underway to ensure the future of schools at Bainbridge, Askrigg and West Burton.

Letters are being sent from the Park authority to MPs and education authorities making the case for keeping open all the remaining primary schools in the National Park.

A motion by councillor John Blackie was backed unanimously by members calling on education authorities to recognise the importance of primary schools to the future of rural communities.

Cllr Blackie said: “When I was first elected 20 years ago, Askrigg primary had 79 pupils, Bainbridge 46 and West Burton 44.

“Now the pupil numbers are, respectively, 40, 23 and 22.

“In 20 years the numbers have halved. The situation is even worse in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

“As a National Park Authority, we want to send a clarion call to those that have influence over the running and funding of primary schools, to remind them of the importance of protecting these vital community assets.”

Cllr Blackie said that communities without schools were at risk of becoming “retirement villages”.

He added: “Keld had a thriving school in the 1960s. The school was later closed and now there is not a single child in the village.”

Park Chairman, Carl Lis, said it was important the Authority spoke up.

He said: “The recent closure of Horton-in-Ribblesdale primary school was a serious blow for the community, which we campaigned against.

“We do not run schools, or set schools policy, but we have a responsibility to speak on behalf of local communities.”

Cllr Yvonne Peacock, Richmondshire District Council leader said: “Having a good local primary school is one of the factors that can keep a village sustainable. When a school closes, we know that a village can die.”

The National Park’s move has been welcomed by North Yorkshire County Council which has already lobbied the Government for better funding.