Farron backs moves to bring new students to Ambleside

12.00.00am GMT Thu 25th Feb 2010

Local MP Tim Farron has written to government ministers asking them to support plans for an international hotel school at Ambleside camps.

Tim has been leading the campaign to save the campus and recently won concessions from the university management. The concessions have allowed all Outdoor Studies students to stay in Ambleside.

As part of Tim's work to bring about a rescue bid, he has worked with Kendal College who have offered the University of Cumbria a plan in which Foundation Degree students would be based on the campus and would work with successful local hoteliers and hospitality businesses. The plan would allow up to 150 students to see the hospitality industry from the inside while breathing new life into Ambleside's beleaguered student body. Tim has called on the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) who oversee Further & higher Education to back the bid and support him, local businesses and Kendal College to make this course a reality in time for the beginning of term in September.

Tim said: "This opportunity to bring more courses to Ambleside is fantastic. The university has not yet responded to our offer about a world class school of Hospitality Management. I am calling on the government to back our bid and allow us to grow Ambleside. With the campus set in the heart of the Lake District there could be no better place in Britain to learn hospitality management than here!"