AN EVESHAM campaigner has shed light on the impacts of the planned closure of the town’s college campus on wheelchair users’ access to nearby education.
Sally Jones, a wheelchair user herself, says the closure of Evesham New College will ‘hit the most vulnerable the hardest’ as she supports West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats in their campaign against the plans.
News of Warwickshire College Group’s (WCG) planned axe of its Evesham campus was shared in March this year alongside a consultation asking for thoughts on transferring the college’s provision to its Pershore site, another of WCG’s education portfolio.
A statement issued by WCG alongside the news said the college had faced ‘student recruitment and financial challenges’ with 60 per cent of the campus having already transferred to Pershore in the last four years.
The group hopes a full move to Pershore College will provide a ‘more positive and enriching experience’.
While the potential impacts on all youngsters’ access to education in Evesham are considerable as a result of the plans, campaigner Sally fears the transport infrastructure locally will make navigating to a new campus ‘difficult’ as a wheelchair user.
Sally Jones, who is standing for election in Worcestershire County Council’s Evesham South Ward in May, added: “As a wheelchair user, having a local college means people like me can access education more easily.”
With regard to transport, a further statement issued by WCG made a commitment to provide a dedicated free shuttle bus service from Evesham to Pershore College and from Pershore train station to the campus.
A spokesperson for WCG said: “We are also collaborating with our commercial bus provider in Worcestershire to optimise routes and stops, ensuring convenient and accessible transport options for students travelling from the Evesham area to Pershore College.”
The Evesham New College campus is expected to close in September this year and leader of the Lib Dems campaign, Dan Boatright-Greene, a further education teacher, has written to WCG bosses to demand any profits from the proposed sale of the college be reinvested to protect further education (FE) provision for south Worcestershire.
Visit www.westworcslibdems.org.uk/our-campaigns/save-our-colleges to sign Worcestershire Liberal Democrats’ ‘Save Our Colleges’ campaign.
Visit www.wcg.ac.uk/eveshamconsultation for further information and to have your say on the consultation, which has been extended to end on Friday, May 30.
