A VIGIL will be held to mark one year since the closure of Malvern Hills College was announced.

Last November, WCG announced it would be closing the site in Albert Road North.

Since then, a community group has repeatedly called for its protection.

On November 30 this year, they will be gathering in Priory Park calling for a resolution in the long-running row over its future.

Members of the group will be gathering in Priory Park from 3.30pm until 5pm to show support for the college and to demonstrate its worth to the town.

A spokesman for the group said he hoped West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin would be in attendance.

She has repeatedly called for the college to be protected, and this week wrote to the Department for Education to ask whether a covenant could be put on the site to preserve it as a learning institution.

She said: "The covenant was wisely put in place by Malvern Hills District Council to ensure that the site is preserved for teaching and I have been clear throughout this process that my absolute priority is to ensure that courses continue in Malvern.

"I am glad that the Minister is looking into this matter and I’ve had the chance to raise this issue both in meetings and also in the House of Commons.

"The message could not be clearer that the community wants to save the college.

"I’m hoping that the Department will be able to help me to confirm that we won’t lift the covenant and can save Malvern Hills College for generations to come.

"Leaving a decaying site is the worst outcome for everyone."

Mrs Baldwin also raised her concerns over the closure during a debate in the Commons on November 15, as well as meeting with skills minister Alex Burghart to discuss the issue.

After that meeting, she said: "This was an extremely constructive discussion and I am hopeful that the message will be relayed to Warwickshire College Group that they should come to the table and find an acceptable solution for all."