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| DARTINGTON COLLEGE OF ARTS: ALIVE AND KICKING! |
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In his enthusiasm for removing the College of Arts from the Dartington Estate, Professor Andrew Brewerton has been premature in declaring 'victory'. The battle to Save Dartington College is, however, far from over.
Headlines stating that the College will merge in the University of Falmouth ignore the fact that the Governors are not in a position to make such a decision in the absence of the necessary funding from the Regional Development Agency. It is by no means clear that the Regional Development Agency will endorse the plan to move because it is highly questionable whether public funds should be used to remove a College from one region for the benefit of another. The controversy is heightened by the fact that millions of £'s of public funds have only recently been used to enhance the existing college buildings at Dartington - on the declared assumption that the college would remain where it was.
A devastatingly high level of mergers and takeovers of colleges is already destroying the academic infrastructure of the UK. It makes no sense to use taxpayers money to exacerbate the problem. Statements of concern are already streaming in to the RDA from students, staff, residents and local authorities and many more are expected.
Whilst we support the appropriate use of RDA funds to benefit deprived areas of Cornwall, it is entirely inappropriate to use these funds in ways that will simultaneously devastate the economy of areas of Devon.
Claims that a deadline for a decision has been reached is misleading. Now is the deadline for the questionable application for funds to move to Falmouth but there is no immediate deadline for a decision to stay at Dartington. Neither is there an immediate deadline to raise £20million to cover the costs of improving the premises at Dartington. Not only is this figure almost certainly inflated to justify a move to Falmouth, but in addition any maintenance and improvement work could be spread over many years and be paid for in instalments.
The Save Dartington College Community Campaign today pledged to continue its battle to keep the College in the area.
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