Hope for future of outdoor centre

Plans to close the centre in March 2008 are now on hold

Campaigners trying to save an outdoor education centre in Snowdonia say they are "optimistic" for its future.

The Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre near Caernarfon has been earmarked for closure by its owners Worcestershire County Council.

But that plan has been put on hold after being called in by the authority's scrutiny committee.

There is speculation that the centre will be saved, but the council leader has refused to comment on the issue.

Plans to close the centre were approved by Worcestershire council in July, stating that the authority faced "difficult choices" to save £25m from is budget over three years.

The council spends £600,000 a year funding three outdoor education centres, including the facility at Llanrug, which employs 15 staff.

But the decision to axe the Llanrug centre has led to vocal protests from parents, teachers and children in both Worcestershire and Gwynedd.

The message we are giving out is that we are optimistic Jon Elliot, centre manager

But the council's scrutiny committee has taken the unusual step of calling in the plans, and argues that the financial risk of keeping the centre open is not has high as council officers fear.

Jon Elliot, the Llanrug centre manager, says he is delighted that progress is being made.

"The message we are giving out is that we are optimistic," he said.

"We had a very successful visit from members of the scrutiny committee, and we are now waiting for their report to be presented to the council cabinet."

Petitions

More than 1,000 people have signed an online 10 Downing St petition calling for the centre, and another in the Malvern hills, to be kept open.

The centre has also been supported by the community in Llanrug, where petitions have been put up in local shops.

There has been speculation in the local press in Worcestershire that the centre could be given a reprieve of up to three years.

The council leader, Dr George Lord, has refused to back or reject those suggestions.

"We are waiting for the report from the scrutiny committee, and we will make a decision then," he said.

The council cabinet expects to discuss the issue in early December, before the matter goes to the full council for a final decision.