A GROUP has been set up to save a town college after a controversial decision to close it.

WCG has announced it will close down Malvern Hills College in 2021 after a review found it was “no longer financially viable”.

The decision has been widely criticised, with figures including West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin calling for an explanation of why it happened.

Meanwhile, a group comprising local councillors, academics and businesspeople has been set up to try and save the college.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I am shocked with the Warwickshire College Group for taking this decision at a time when training young people could not be more important, and I am saddened for those people taking courses like hair dressing or beauty therapy who are faced with a long diversion to Evesham to continue their studies.

“They also have done it without even a consultation or the courtesy of sharing their thinking with me.

“In fact, when the group took over the Malvern site they promised they would invest. Last week’s Spending Review delivered a £375 million investment in skills.

“This feels like a very short-term decision, bearing in mind our national need to help young people to get the skills they need to compete in a difficult job market.

“The college group has rightly looked to expand its digital skills teaching capability and we should be doing more teaching locally, not less.

“I’ve asked for an urgent conversation with principal Angela Joyce to understand her thinking and to reassure me that this is not just an asset-stripping exercise.”

When announcing the closure, Angela Joyce, CEO of WCG said the college has not been financially viable for a number of years due to reduced adult education funding and a diminishing customer base.

She said: “The type of education offered at Malvern Hills College is sadly no longer viable for WCG as Malvern Hills College has been financially supported by the rest of the Group since.

“We recognise the important role the College plays in supporting part of the community and we hope we can find a way for the courses to continue for local people to attend.”

Rather than with immediate effect, the college will open for a final term, subject to COVID-19. It ia hoped that in this time, there will be “sufficient local interest” in buying or renovating the facility.

On the back of this, a group comprising local councillors, academics and businesspeople has been set up to try and save the college.

Led by Cllr Tom Wells from Malvern Hills District Council, the Save Our Students Task Force is looking at ways to keep the college, which has been in the town for more than a century, in action.

The group also includes Gini McKay, former vice principal of Evesham and Malvern Hills College, Christopher Green, former trustee and chairman of Malvern Hills College, Roger Britton, chair of Community First, Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Fergus McKay, a former lecturer at Malvern Hills College and Maddy Pennock, former local nurse and midwife, who having retrained at Malvern Hills College, taking a Fine Art Degree in 1989, is now a practising photographer.

Councillors taking part include Cllrs Beverley Nielsen, John Raine, Julie Wood, Clive Hooper and Cynthia Palmer.

Cllr Wells said: “This has been a difficult enough year for Malvernians without the sudden unwelcome news that our College is going to close.

“But I know that we are a resourceful lot and I’m delighted to have put together a group of people with the appropriate qualifications and experience to not only save the college, but also plan for a more sustainable future.

“This could provide not only vocational and education courses for all age groups, but also be a community hub with a focus on the performing arts.”

Cllr Paul Bennett, who represents Pickersleigh, questioned why the announcement was so sudden.

He said: “The closure of Malvern Hills College is very disturbing. Why was the relationship with The District Council so poor that no one knew about this happening or that the College was even in trouble?

“The arrangement with The Warwickshire College Group was apparently set up less than five years ago in 2016.

“Where are the safeguards on consultation and the value of public assets handed over in that deal?”