Lib Dems Deplore Comments From LSC Regional Director

8.29.57pm GMT Mon 12th Mar 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt, has slammed comments from the Regional Director of the Learning & Skills Council that say that the Pershore Group of Colleges must merge or face closure.

Mr Burt, who has campaigned against the merger and visited Pershore College for talks in January, said that Mr Cragg's ultimatum to be closed down or merge was holding a gun to the head of governors, who face a decision on the future of the College on 14th March.

Richard said: "David Cragg seems determined to steamroll the decision through by holding a gun to the head of the governors in advance of their crunch meeting on Thursday.

"I have been told that the college can trade out of debt and start to repay loans within a reasonable time, but he is playing the strong arm on finances and is willing to write off the current debt as part of a merger process with seemingly little care for the quality and scope of future courses, future employment in Pershore, and the loss of a land based Worcestershire College with a national reputation.

"If he is so concerned about public money, why is he prepared to write off millions in order to force through the merger or close the college completely?"

I do not envy the Governors in making their decision, because whichever way they decide, Pershore College, the town and Worcestershire will lose. Mr Cragg appears to have already ruled out all the positive alternatives and I call on our MP, Sir Michael Spicer to make a last ditch effort through Ministers and the LSC to make him see sense."