Hundreds sign petition as college staff suffer pay cut

3:00pm Thursday 8th June 2006

COLLEGE staff are to take pay cuts while campaigners fight back against cutbacks at further education centres in Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Some staff in Wharfedale are having their hourly wages cut by up to half by Bradford College, following the Government's decision to withdraw funding for certain types of course.

And although more than 200 people have signed a petition calling for Burley Grange to stay open, and Ilkley Parish Council is protesting to MP Ann Cryer and Bradford College about cuts and rising fees, which also affect the Bridge House college centre in Ilkley.

College principal Michele Sutton has confirmed that the hourly rates are being cut for lecturers teaching Learning for Leisure courses where the college says there is no need for the lecturer to do marking, preparation work or certification.

Mrs Sutton told the Gazette this week that the rate offered is competitive with other colleges.

But concerned students say they fear this could drive staff away from Wharfedale, and along with higher course fees, could effectively close down many further education courses currently on offer in the valley.

Hopes among Burley-based campaigners were raised at a meeting between Wharfedale ward councillor Matt Palmer, Burley parish councillors and Mrs Sutton last week. Councillor Palmer who set up the petition to save Burley Grange suggested ways of saving on Internet connection costs, and put forward the idea of selling off only part of the Grange and retaining the ground floor for college use, or Burley Parish Council becoming involved with the building.

Mrs Sutton said the meeting was very positive and helpful' and the college was looking into his ideas. "We haven't come to a firm conclusion what will happen to the Grange itself," she said, although she confirmed that courses will not be offered there in September.

"We regret that there are a lot of people very concerned about it, but the situation the we're in has left us to make some difficult choices. We can support one major building in Wharfedale and we believe that is Ilkley."

Mrs Sutton assured this newspaper that there would be no changes' to courses for adults with learning disabilities.

However, Ilkley students and parish councillors continue to be concerned for the future of further education in Wharfedale. Students fear Wharfedale's further education may soon disappear altogether, leaving people of all ages with a trek to Keighley, Skipton or Bradford.

Some are uncertain if their courses will run next year. Mrs Sutton says the college is in the process of drawing up its third draft of next year's prospective, following three rounds of Government cuts so far this year, and the courses offered for the year ahead will be decided soon.

Councillor Kate Brown told Ilkley Parish Council's meeting on Monday that the changes were equally of concern to Ilkley.

She said: "I think it will affect Ilkley just as much. Not only do people from Ilkley go to Burley for their courses, costs are looking likely to go up and that will price people out of using the courses here in Ilkley."

• Copies of the Burley Grange petition are available at online at (www.saveourcollege.com) and during office hours at the Ilkley Gazette office, 8 Wells Road. The petition can also be signed in Burley at Costcutter on Station Road, Richards and Co, Main Street, Wharfedale Flowers, Main Street, and at Burley Post Office, Station Road.