Coleg Gwent Cuts | The Hill, Abergavenny to Close: "a real tragedy"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Apr 2009

Aduclt and Special Needs Education face the axe due to Labour-Plaid Assembly Government education budget cuts

A shock announcement that The Hill Education and Conference Centre is to close has been described as a "real tragedy for the town".

The closure, a part of a rescue package by Coleg Gwent after seeing a severe cut in funding from the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government, was described by local Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Michael German, describing the Labour-Plaid Assembly government as "sheer hypocrites."

Mr. German said, "Just yesterday we witnessed Plaid and Labour Assembly members speaking against cuts in further education, after they had voted for the very same cuts. Labour and Plaid cannot hide away from their actions and then try to cover up with sympathetic words on the steps of the Assembly Building."

Clearly angered, Mr. German added: "The Labour-Plaid Government is directly responsible for the Coleg Gwent cuts: teaching posts are going, sites closed, courses axed and young students facing upheaval just when they need to concentrate on studies. Where do Labour and Plaid suppose they can claim that they are committed to investment in education now?

Abergavenny County Councillor Douglas Edwards, who represents Abergavenny Grofield, said that the news was a "real tragedy."

He said: "The Hill provides a whole host of adult education and weekend residential courses. This brings a lot of visitors to Abergavenny. The closure is not what the town needs. Why is the Assembly Government taking an axe to further education?"

Cllr. Edwards words were echoed by Phil Hobson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Monmouthshire County Council and their General election Candidate: "Education is taking a real battering this year. We should be investing in education and the future skills of young people to prepare for life after the recession.

"But no, here comes the Labour-Plaid Assembly government with their big axe. Any idea that they are committed to investment in education now lies in tatters. The vote to cut funding and then speak in support of students and teachers against the very cuts they voted for is breathtaking in its hypocrisy."