ONE of North Cornwall’s county councillors has criticised potential plans which would see the closure of a number of adult education centres across Cornwall, stating that “Truro is prepared to consign the extremities of Cornwall to the waste bin so money can be spent on the centre.”

Independent councillor for Launceston South, John Conway, has hit out at Cornwall Council, after it was announced that the body would be entertaining the possibility of teeing up a number of adult education centres for the chopping block in an effort to cut spending.

This prospect has caused particular outrage in North and East Cornwall, with many of the proposed centres being based in the area.

Cllr Conway has now said that despite further consultation planned to take place, it seems as though the powers that be in the west of the county are prepared to neglect their north and eastern residents to free up spending in Cornwall’s ‘centre’.

Speaking to the Post, Cllr Conway explained: “Cornwall Council Monitoring Officer has concluded that the original so called consultation on adult learning closures was flawed and that further consultation is necessary before the decision can be ratified.”

Plans would see seven centres on the chopping block, including: Camelford, Launceston, Callington, Saltash, Torpoint, St Austell and Penzance centres.

Cllr Conway continued: “Those serving Truro and the rest of central Cornwall are to remain open.

“The consultation was confidential as Cornwall Council was negotiating redundancies with the unions even though the decision had not been taken!

“The proposal will remove access to Adult Education from the majority of residents in east Cornwall. East Cornwall has some of the most deprived areas of Cornwall and public transport is minimal. There is also minimal provision for adult education from alternative providers.

“Bodmin for example is remaining open and also has Callywith College offering similar courses. Many users of adult education do not live in the main towns so they have to get to the towns before accessing public transport.”

Some have suggested that online learning provides an opportunity for learning to continue without the need for centres to be used, thus saving money. However, Cllr Conway has criticised the suggestion, arguing that with many areas being deprived, some many not have access to the necessary technology or some service users may not be able to read or write.

He continued: “Online learning is impossible if you don’t have access to a computer or are unable to read or write.”

With a second consultation set to get underway, Cllr Conway has made his views clear, that those in the north and east of Cornwall have been forgotten by councillors who sit in the county’s capital.

He concluded: “It would appear that Truro is prepared to consign the extremities of Cornwall to the waste bin so money can be spent on the centre.

“One and all, except if you live in the east!”

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