MP urges Ambleside fight to continue

The campaign to protect the historic Charlotte Mason campus at Ambleside is far from over, says local MP Tim Farron

"We're pleased that we have had a partial victory in that Outdoor Studies students will now be able to remain in Ambleside. But all Teacher Education students are still being asked to move to Lancaster. For those students and for dozens of staff at Ambleside, the University's decision is heartbreaking and devastating.

"However, the University's proposals still have to be signed off by the Higher Education Funding Council and the North West Development Agency on 25 March. That means that we can still win the fight to keep all the current students at Ambleside.

"In particular, the North West Development Agency's support has been very encouraging. They have shared with me their concern about the impact of downsizing Ambleside campus on the local economy and community. Having discussed with the NWDA a multi-million pound rescue package for Ambleside that the University has not yet accepted, I hope that the NWDA will be as outraged as I am that the University is pressing ahead with moving Teacher Education students when there are alternatives available.

"We still have at least one more chance to protect Charlotte Mason's legacy at Ambleside, and we should ensure that we grasp it."

Tim is now encouraging people to write to Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA and to the Higher Education Funding Council to ask for their support to stop the plans to mothball parts of the campus.