THE row over the planned Malvern Hills College closure has continued, with the campaign group set up to save it holding its first meetings.

The Malvern Hills College SOS Task Group was set up by a number of local councillors and

Beverley Nielsen, chair of the Malvern Hills College SOS Task Group, said:"Since the first meeting of our Task Group on Wednesday last week I have organised a number of meetings enabling myself and Cllr Tom Wells, as Task Group founder, to gain a 360 degree understanding of the situation prioritising the needs of our local community along with current challenges faced on the ground.

"I have organised various meetings and Tom and I have, this week, met with Warwickshire Colleges Group CEO, Angela Joyce, together with governor representatives - past and present.

"We have met with the Principal of Hereford College of Art, Abigail Appleton, with Richard Williams from the Chase Sixth Form College, with both the Chair of Trustees and Manager of the Malvern Cube, with the CEO of Worcestershire LEP, and with staff and students of Malvern Hills College which has led to selected representatives joining our collective task group.

"Our SOS Task Group is meeting weekly and as Chair I will be reporting back on these meetings and possible routes forward.

READ MORE: College group hits back at Harriett Baldwin after MP criticises college closure

"I am grateful to everyone who is giving their time in supporting this Task Group and to all who have been helping us as we consider the current position and options for the future.

"At this early stage we are seeking to establish a viable route to a successful conclusion to this situation which is clearly challenging on many levels."

Cllr Tom Wells stated, “We have also taken the opportunity to widen the representation on the Task Group, bringing in current college tutors and people with relevant experience. We are also talking with local businessmen and philanthropists."

Earlier this week, WCG, who run the college, hit back at West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, saying there had been no communication from her.

Responding to Mrs Baldwin, CEO Angela Joyce said: "It was clearly disappointing to be accused of not communicating with Harriett in the run-up to our announcement about Malvern Hills College.

"WCG has a very positive relationship with MPs right across our area of operation and we engaged with them all in a number of communications over the lockdown period, highlighting financial pressures caused by both Covid and government under-funding, and the potential implications for further education colleges.

"Support for our situation was given by a number of our MPs, so it was a pity that throughout all this period of communication we had no feedback from Harriett’s office."