A Wolverhampton MP has urged the Labour-led city council to save its outdoor education centre in North Wales, as it emerged that essential repairs to the main building remain unfinished.
Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has written to council leader Ian Brookfield after she received correspondence from concerned parents and teachers in her constituency regarding the current state of the Towers Outdoor Education Centre in Snowdonia. The centre has been open since 1961, and every years hundreds of schoolchildren travel there to take part in a variety of outdoor activities.
However, scheduled repairs to the main building were not completed last year due to unforeseen structural problems, and it remains out of use. Ms Stevenson says that this has affected schoolchildren across her constituency, with the centre fully booked up to this Summer. She says some schools are fearful about the possibility that the centre may close entirely and are considering cancelling bookings.
In her letter to Cllr Brookfield, Ms Stevenson describes the situation as “unacceptable” and has demanded an explanation from the council. She writes: “The Towers has a fantastic reputation for providing a unique experience to Wolverhampton’s schoolchildren, teaching them skills and instilling confidence and self-belief so that they can go on to succeed in later life. I know many of my constituents will be saddened to see the future of this valuable asset in question.”
She goes on to say: “I share the concerns of my constituents, and I therefore urge you to keep the Towers open and ensure that all necessary repairs are carried out to allow schoolchildren across Wolverhampton to continue to benefit from the courses it offers. I know that the provision of youth services for young people in Wolverhampton is a top priority for you. It would therefore be deeply disappointing if the council does not agree to carry out the repairs.”
A decision on the future of the Towers is expected to be taken by the Council’s Cabinet in February.
