THREE former MPs are calling for a Parliamentary inquiry into a controversial decision by a college to close a campus in Cumbria and sell off the site. The three Peers - Dale Campbell-Savours, David Clark and Sue Hayman - want a Defra select committee to examine Askham Bryan College’s actions in closing Newton Rigg in Penrith, which they claim is asset-stripping and will have a major impact on the local community. Askham Bryan took over Newton Rigg from the University of Cumbria in 2011, and it currently has 440 further education students, 96 apprentices and 117 staff. Lord Campbell-Savors, a former long-serving MP for Workington, said almost the entire college’s staff had been given notice of redundancy for later this year but alternative proposals were being worked up by people with a loyalty to Cumbria .
MPs call for inquiry into move by Askham Bryan College to shut campus yorkpress.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yorkpress.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Learning is in our nature - Askham Bryan College creates opportunity during a time of change
Askham Bryan College educates and trains the next generation of students for work in the land-based sector. They include future farmers, horticulturists, equestrians, public service officers, sports specialists and experts in animal science. Amidst lockdown restrictions, the staff and senior leadership team at Askham Bryan College see this as an opportunity to refine online teaching methods and curriculum delivery. Dr Tim Whitaker, CEO and Principal at Askham Bryan College says, “Many of our students serve as key workers so the lockdown’s have presented many challenges for them around juggling coursework with essential work. They help communities while meeting the commitments of their studies, and we look for the opportunities that offer them a chance to easily manage both”.