MP raises concerns with minister over Ambleside campus closure

Local MP Tim Farron today met with Higher Education minister David Lammy MP to raise his concerns about the closure of Ambleside Campus and the impact it will have on South Lakeland.

In the meeting the minister sympathized with issues raised by Tim and encouraged him to meet the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to try and solve the crisis.

The University of Cumbria recently admitted a massive deficit and claims that the "mothballing" of the campus will save them £2 million per year. There are fears up to 100 of the 150 Ambleside campus staff would be made redundant as well as 600 students leaving the South Lakes for either Penrith, Lancaster or Carlisle.

Tim says, "I met the minister today to raise my concerns about the decision to close the Ambleside campus. I pointed out to him the impact on the local community and asked him to help solve the crisis. He told me to take this issue to the top of the funding council to see if we can find the £3 million we need to save the campus."