College closure is 'major blow'

A Berkshire council has criticised a further education college's decision to quit the town of Maidenhead.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead says the town will suffer a "major blow" when East Berkshire College shuts its campus there in July.

The council says the college disregarded concerns about the effects of closure on local education.

But the college has stressed that it will maintain classes in Maidenhead using local schools and halls.

Public funds

In a statement, the council said: "It is unacceptable that East Berkshire College is leaving a town the size of Maidenhead with reduced access to education.

"The decision to carry on with the closure is a major blow and it is deeply disappointing.

"They have not listened to the widely-held concerns about the effects on adult education in the local community."

The college recently opened the doors to a new building on its Windsor campus in St Leonards Road.

In July, the Maidenhead campus, in Boyn Hill, will close leaving the town with one further education college, the Berkshire College of Agriculture.

In a statement on its website, the East Berkshire College said: "Following an independent review of its estates strategy, the board of governors agreed that two strong campuses in Windsor and Langley, and partnerships with existing providers, will best serve individuals and businesses and... will be the most effective use of public funds."