Lancashire County Council insist Adult College is not closing

Rumours have been rife on social media in the last 24 hours that the college, based at White Cross, is to close at the end of this year.

This follows the Guardian being told by a source in May that staff had been told the college was to close, with staff either being moved to other college sites or being offered redundancy.

Among the plans, the source said, was the leasing out of part of the building for private use.

Council bosses spoke out at the time to assure college staff and users that it would not close.

And the council, which operates the further education college, has again spoken out to allay fears.

However, head office operations have been moved from Lancaster to Chorley.

Amanda Melton, interim principal of the Adult College, said: “Our courses in Lancaster are hugely popular and we have no plans to reduce the number delivered here.

“In fact, we are looking at how our offer to the public can be further improved and expanded in Lancaster.

“The college’s head office operations were centralised in Chorley last month, including those previously based at White Cross Business Centre, but these changes are behind the scenes and don’t lead to any course cancellations.

“We’re continuing to offer a wide range of learning opportunities and hope people will continue to sign up and enjoy them.”

The Lancashire Adult Learning staff employs around 85 FTE teaching staff across the service who are not based at any one location.

Around 25 full-time administrative and premises management staff are based at Lancaster.

The Adult College was established in 1975 and is based in a former linoleum factory, converted for use in 1990.

It offers a broad range of courses catering for a diverse range of needs and interests across the region from Wyre, Preston and Fylde to Lancaster and Morecambe.