College merger talks alarm NFU

The NFU has challenged plans to merge Walford and North Shropshire College with Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology, claiming that it could hit land-based education in the region.

The union’s West Midland office has written a strongly-worded response to a consultation paper from the Learning and Skills Council.

The consultation claimed that “land-based education and training would enjoy greater security as a result of the merger”.

But the NFU has challenged this point, demanding assurances that Walford’s agricultural and horticultural courses will not be abandoned as a result of the proposals.

The union has also expressed fears that the move could lead to the disposal of the college farm which includes a 210 cow commercial dairy, arable, beef and sheep units.

Ron Pugh, principal of Walford, said he understood the union’s concerns but the LSC had given a strong commitment to retain an effective land-based education system.

“Rest assured that the governors are not going to take any decisions that will compromise the future of land-based education in the region,” he said. “But these days in the public sector there is a lot of pressure on funds and by merging the colleges we could cut the cost of bureaucracy, so get more funds for the front line.”

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