Liberal Democrats call out Warwickshire College Group’s continued Asset Stripping of Worcestershire Colleges

After the announcement from Warwickshire College Group (WCG) that they will be closing yet another college, Worcestershire Liberal Democrats are calling for changes in Further Education in the county.

Back in 2016, when the merger of WCG with South Worcestershire College was complete, the new college argued that the futures of Evesham College and Malvern College had been secured when the merger took place. College bosses argued the plans would allow them to expand the use of technology and resources to help students, increase the range of specialised facilities and provide more employment opportunities for students.

In 2015, when the plan was first suggested, David Ansell, interim principal at South Worcestershire College, said: “We believe that this proposed merger is good news and will ensure the long-term future of South Worcestershire College and allow it to continue meeting the local needs of individuals, employers and communities.”

Instead, less than ten years on, Malvern College is already closed and Evesham is expected to close in September. The Liberal Democrats have written to the College Group to demand that Worcestershire’s colleges are protected, that proper investment in Evesham takes place and all funds from sales of already closed Worcestershire assets are kept in the county to improve Further Education in the county.

Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene, who is a Further Education teacher says: “This situation was inevitable. The group continued to reduce the number of courses since their 2021 refocus on technical skills and apprenticeships. There has been no attempt to build the profile of the college or show any ambition to stay in the town. Now we are left with an Evesham site barely used and ready to be sold off to the highest bidder. Where will that money go? Will it be earmarked to be invested in Further Education or will it be yet another asset stripped from the county to prop up Warwickshire?”

Local campaigner Sally Jones says: “This closure will hit the most vulnerable in Evesham the hardest. Public transport in the area is already difficult to navigate and as a wheelchair user, having a local college means people like me can access education more easily. This is a college that should be at the heart of the community, offering adult education course, vocational provision and access to university for our local community. It should not be closing. If Warwickshire College Group cannot make it work, they should return the college back to the community so we can lead in the change needed where they have failed.”

The Liberal Democrats are running a petition to stop the closure of the Evesham campus and demand the proper funding of Worcestershire Further Education, with or without the support of Warwickshire College Group.

Petition can be found here: www.westworcslibdems.org.uk/our-campaigns/save-our-colleges