Tim vows to fight on to save Ambleside campus

12.00.00am GMT Fri 18th Dec 2009

Local MP Tim Farron has today vowed to keep fighting to save the historic Charlotte Mason College from University of Cumbria plans to 'mothball' the site.

At an Academic Board meeting held on Wednesday afternoon, plans to move 600 students to Carlisle, Penrith or Lancaster and potentially make up to 140 staff redundant were agreed. This means that the plans now move on to the university's governing body - its board of directors - and their meeting in February.

Tim has this week handed-over his 3000-strong petition against the closure of Ambleside campus to the university. Along with the signatures are some 1400 substantive comments which show the real strength of opposition to the plans from the community, staff and students.

Tim says, "The decision has gone through academic board and that must be awful news for the students and families at this time of year. But it is not surprising because all the people at the meeting are university staff and the meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor. It must be difficult to vote against the man who is ultimately your boss!

"Our task now is to work hard and lobby the decision makers who are not University of Cumbria staff. I am committed to working with the students and keeping undergraduates at the historic Charlotte Mason College. We may have lost a battle but I am determined that with the community we will win the war."