A COUNCILLOR insists that Warrington and Vale Royal College ‘owes’ Northwich as it moves forward with plans to close its Hartford campus.

The college, formerly known as Mid Cheshire College before its merger with Warrington Collegiate in 2017, has revealed its priorities for the next two years.

In a document sent to stakeholders, including Cheshire West and Chester Council members, the college confirms that its plans to ‘consider the college estate’ involve the disposal of the Hartford campus, and the development of an ‘estates strategy’ which considers the ‘aspirations for Barons Quay’.

Cllr Sam Naylor, CWAC member for Winnington and Castle, is repeating a call for the college to provide classrooms at Barons Quay to support Northwich students who struggle to access the college’s other sites in Warrington and Winsford.

He said: “It is not unachievable and it would breathe new life into the town. I think we are owed that.

 

“CWAC put £1 million into that campus in 2011-12 for a brand new sports hall, theatre and arts block, and at the moment it is just going to be knocked down. It’s an absolute tragedy.

“Mid Cheshire College was thriving at that time with 2,500 students. There was no way that anyone would have believed then that the site would close.

“The college is just trying to persuade us that there is no alternative other than close Hartford but I find that very hard to believe.”

The plans to change the college’s estate is just one of 16 priorities that it has put forward to ‘become bigger, stronger and better for Warrington, Vale Royal and Cheshire’.

It first announced plans to close the Hartford campus in March and revealed that 31 staff had been made redundant as a result – although principal Nichola Newton told councillors in May that the college is ‘not saying never or no to Northwich’.

But Cllr Susan Kaur, Conservative member for Hartford and Greenbank, insists that families have been let down by the college’s decision.

“The Warrington campus is on the other side of Warrington – it is further than Crewe,” she said.

“From a transport perspective it doesn’t make any sense because the Hartford campus is between Hartford and Greenbank stations, that cover two railway lines.

“I have seen parents on Facebook say that their children can’t get to Warrington until after 9.30am. If students are travelling from Hartford they have to leave at 7am to get there for 9am.

 

“Families are really struggling because Sir John Deane’s has no transport links around it, so Hartford was the one. Winsford only has one train station and trains there don’t go to Northwich station.”

Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, says he has offered to do ‘anything in my power’ to help the college.

He added: “But that offer was never taken up. In fact, I saw no evidence the college had put any effort into ensuring the campus remained sustainable.

“I felt this whole exercise was nothing short of asset-stripping, with Northwich losing its provision in favour of Warrington and Winsford, and I subsequently met with the education minister Ann Milton and Richard Atkins, the FE commissioner, raising my concerns.

“The whole situation has been very badly handled by the college from day one, and has done real damage to the prospects of young people in my constituency.

“I would hope that even at this late stage that the college will reconsider its approach and make provision for good quality further education in Northwich.”

Warrington and Vale Royal College is continuing to leave the door open for provision in Northwich in future, while it is pleased with how the move from Hartford to Winsford and Warrington has gone.

A spokesman said: "We’re currently reviewing options for delivery, which will include the launch of a survey to establish adult education and training needs in the Northwich area.

"Student numbers at Winsford have certainly met our expectations and it is pleasing to see the campus bustling with students.

"With accessible transport, excellent facilities and first-rate teaching and pastoral support available at all campuses, we are optimistic that student numbers at Winsford campus will continue to grow each year – with an increasing number of students choosing to stay local and travel the short distance from the Northwich and Vale Royal area.

"We also have an increasing number of students choosing to take advantage of the campus’ state-of-the-art facilities at Warrington.

"In addition, Warrington and Vale Royal College is delivering adult education courses at the Northwich Work Zone."