WARRINGTON and Vale Royal College is to ask Northwich residents about the ‘adult education and training needs’ in the town.

Following the closure of much of the Hartford campus, with students moving to the Winsford or Warrington sites, it has been suggested that the college could offer an outreach programme in the Northwich area.

With Barons Quay mooted as a potential destination for classrooms, the college did not rule out any future programmes.

A WVR College 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.”

The spokesman added that adult education courses are currently being delivered at the Northwich Work Zone, on top of a ‘small number of new and existing students’ studying electrical installation, fabrication and welding, and engineering at the Hartford campus.

Cllr Sam Naylor told the Guardian last week that the college ‘owes’ Northwich, and that classrooms at Barons Quay would go some way to making up for the campus closure.

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 new sports hall, theatre and arts block. At the moment it’s just going to be knocked down.

“It’s an absolute tragedy.”

Students who have moved to Winsford and Warrington have benefited from a complementary 24/7 Arriva bus pass.

The college spokesman said: “We are very pleased with the successful transition of students from the Hartford campus to our Winsford and Warrington campuses.

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

Principal Nichola Newton told CWAC councillors in May: “We are not saying never or no to Northwich – it’s not our intentionWe have a very specific and immediate financial problem and if we don’t solve it the whole college will keel over.”

n yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk