Closure of Cornwall adult education centres is 'vindictive and shortsighted'

Anger has greeted the decision by Cornwall Council to close seven adult education centres across the Duchy. The decision has been labelled "vindictive", "chaotic", "short-sighted" and handled "appallingly".

The Adult Education Board of Governors has endorsed the strategic director’s decision to close the centres, following "formal staff consultation and targeted engagement with learners, local councillors and town councils". Anger greeted the initial news that centres which will close are in Camelford, Callington, Torpoint, Saltash, Launceston, Penzance and St Austell.

Centres in Bude, Newquay, Liskeard, St Dennis, Bodmin, Helston, Truro, Camborne, Hayle and Falmouth will remain open and, the council says, different ways of working with partners and moving to online provision will allow most courses to continue in a different format, an alternative location or through another learning provider

The board has reviewed the feedback from recent engagement and recommended that the proposed closures should proceed, but that no closures or redundancies should take place before February 28. The announcement comes a week after over 100 staff across the council's various departments were told they face redundancy.

The council says numbers in adult education have not recovered as quickly as hoped following Covid which, coupled with inflationary pressures over the past two years, has made it difficult to justify the existing cost.

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Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder with responsibility for adult education, said: “The financial challenges facing all local authorities mean we simply cannot keep providing a service if we are losing money, especially when we can maintain access to courses through alternative delivery methods. Many people now prefer to access education online, and there are alternative providers available, as well as the remaining centres which will continue to operate as normal.

“This is not a case of reducing our offering, it is about delivering it in the most cost-effective way to ensure we are providing the very best value for money for our residents.”

However, others have condemned the decision, including independent Penzance councillor Tim Dwelly, who has been fighting for the town's centre to remain open.

He told us: "The closures have been handled appallingly by the council. Staff being made redundant just before Christmas weren't even told before the decision went public. In Penzance I helped to find alternative venues that were cheaper and would have made the local service cover its costs. But all this was ignored by Conservative cabinet member Barbara Ellenbroek who seems to have done nothing to mitigate the pain.

"I am hearing that trainees have already abandoned their courses in many cases. It's a vindictive and chaotic decision, made worse by the fact that a new £10 million adult skills programme is starting next year. A more intelligent council leadership would have found ways to continue the service until that point and then merge the two systems."

Cllr Ellenbroek was unavailable to respond to Cllr Dwelly's comments about her.

Cornwall Liberal Democrats have also expressed deep concern over the decision. Hilary Frank, councillor for Saltash Essa and spokesperson for children and families at Cornwall Council, said: "The proposed closures are a short-sighted response to financial pressures. Adult education centres are more than just places of learning; they are lifelines for individuals seeking to improve their skills, gain employment and contribute positively to our community. Closing these centres, especially without thorough consultation with local stakeholders, undermines the value of education and the future prosperity of Cornwall.”

Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, has also expressed concern, highlighting the lack of consultation with local MPs and communities. “These adult education centres are valuable learning sites for my constituents in Camelford, Launceston and their surrounding areas. For many, travelling to an alternative centre simply isn’t realistic and this decision risks cutting off access to essential education and skills services.”

The Lib Dems have called on Cornwall Council to halt the proposed closures and engage in meaningful consultation with local communities, town councils and other stakeholders to explore alternative solutions that preserve access to adult education across Cornwall.

The council has stated that anyone enrolled at any affected centre will be supported to continue their course, possibly through the transfer to a nearby alternative centre, to an online alternative or to another provider, such as a college, including Truro and Penwith College and Cornwall College. "We anticipate that current learners will be able to complete their course before centres close," said a spokesperson.