AN OPERA singer from Chirk has added his voice to calls for free school transport between Llangollen and Chirk to be saved.

Welsh National Opera star David Kempster lived in Chirk and went to Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen, between 1980 and 1988.

Next Tuesday councillors will once again consider their school transport policy after deciding to impose changes earlier this year.

The policy as it stands says children will only get free transport to their nearest school.

However, Chirk parents in particular have been concerned that the traditional links between Chirk and Ysgol Dinas Brân could be lost as children will only have free transport to Ysgol Rhiwabon.

Mr Kempster now lives in Kendal in the Lake District with his wife Charlotte and their two children Dylan, aged six and Elizabeth, three-and-a-half.

His brother Stewart is also an opera singer who went to Ysgol Dinas Brân between 1976 and 1984.

Mr Kempster said that it was thanks to a music teacher at the school and the strong links with the International Eisteddfod that the pair got into music.

He said: “I feel very blessed to have gone to that school.

“The policy seems to make very little sense when the relationship between Chirk and Llangollen has prospered over the years.

“I don’t doubt that Ysgol Rhiwabon is a good school but, literally for generations, there has been this link between Chirk and Dinas Bran.

“Dinas Brân could lose between 400 and 500 pupils.

“I assumed that schools today were all about parental choice.

“I’m sure the people of Chirk have been putting up as much of a fight as they can.

“This is an important issue and not a time to sit on the fence.

“It’s so important to preserve this relationship.

“I hope the decision can be reversed and we can sort this out.”