A PUBLIC meeting has been called for Holme Valley residents to air their concerns over the proposed closure of the Holmfirth Adult Education Centre.
Kirklees College has set a date of Friday, June 10, for the meeting after talks with ward councillors.
College vice-principals Melanie Brooke and Steve Scarre met Holme Valley councillors Ken Sims and Donald Firth on Wednesday.
And now members of the public are being invited to the meeting at 3pm in the Holmfirth Adult Education Centre on Huddersfield Road to give their views.
Clr Sims encouraged as many residents as possible to attend.
“It was a semi-constructive meeting and they are looking at the costs of maintaining the building.
“We are looking at all the options. We don’t want to lose this service. Generations of local people have benefited from adult learning classes here,” he said.
Clr Sims said he had spoken to Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney about the proposals. The MP will be attending the meeting, along with councillors and college management.
And he said if the Government was keen for public services such as education and health to work more closely together, this was a fine example.
He said older people who attended adult education classes were healthier in mind and body because of the benefits of lifelong learning and did not need as much healthcare.
The college says it is aware that closing the centre is an “emotive issue” but says maintaining the building and fee income does not justify continuing classes there.
It is hoping the Government’s Big Society might inspire the community to take over the centre.
