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| HALTING MOVE 'WOULD COST COLLEGE JOBS' |
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Herald Express
Dartington College of Arts bosses have accused anti-closure campaigners of threatening the future of jobs at the famous education site.
Since it was first announced just over a year ago that the college was being lined up for relocation to Falmouth, students and some staff have campaigned feverishly to halt the plans.But with an announcement on European Objective One relocation funding being made on February 1, college bosses yesterday said that if campaigners won their fight there would be no arts college anywhere - not in Dartington or Falmouth.
Organisers of the Save Dartington College Campaign refuted these claims, however, and disputed college promises that jobs would be maintained after the relocation.
They also said there were question marks over whether the Objective One funding was under threat because it did not meet the required criteria.
But Mark Taylor, vice-president of financial resources at Dartington College, said: "I believe what we're doing is safeguarding jobs, and the active growth of Falmouth would create jobs growth.
"Stopping the move would actually lead to the great loss of jobs. It's the worst-case scenario.
"If we remained in Dartington, how would we maintain the buildings? What would fund it? The campaign is making headlines which say the college is closing, but we're not - we're relocating.
"If you think about the impact such headlines have on parents of prospective students, it's a very unsettling message. It's made recruiting all that much harder to do.
"The student residencies were built in the 1960s, so they're coming up to 50 years old. Students' expectations are higher now.
"The best opportunity to keep the college is the University of Falmouth. We have also had to consider the possibility of funding in the future."
Dartington College and trust representatives, as well as Jeremy Whitaker from Falmouth, did emphasise that even if the college move gets the go-ahead, it would not be completed until 2010.
When asked if there was a sense of regret about the proposed relocation, they responded: "Yes. Absolutely."
But Matt Griffiths, Dartington Trust's development director, said there was no viable alternative.
He added: "The Save Dartington College Campaign is making life really difficult. If the funding doesn't come through, that's potentially the closure of the college.
"People are passionate about it, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be, but what of the future? It's been difficult sometimes to make people understand that the college isn't sustainable.
"Even if £20million were found, it wouldn't be a solution. We wouldn't have the funds for the long-term sustainability.
"Big decisions have been made but we remain supportive of the college and the relocation. We know it's the best option so that, long-term, there's a university of the arts for the South West."
Richard Gonski, one of the anti-closure campaigners, disputed many of the college's claims.
He said: "As far as I understand it, Objective One funding says you can't take away money from one area and put it elsewhere. It's illegal.
"Also, I think somebody should ask the college how many full- and part-time staff will be relocating to Falmouth.
"The college has been haemorrhaging staff in the past six months. Quite a few have left. The college say they're protecting jobs, but that's just not the case.
"Are part-time staff going to drive to all the way to Falmouth for a few hours' teaching? How about ancillary staff such as cleaners?
"And how many jobs are going to be lost from the Totnes economy? What they're saying is Alice in Wonderland stuff."
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