At the meeting on Tuesday (December 11), Wiltshire Council cabinet agreed that outdoor education will continue in the county. The details of this decision were outlined in marlborough.news’ earlier report on the proposals going before the cabinet meeting.
We publish below the statement published on Tuesday (December 11) by Lucy Gomes, who started the petition against Wiltshire Council’s earlier decision to close and sell off both Oxenwood and Braeside centres. As Lucy Gomes explains the news from the cabinet meeting is good – but mixed:
“It seems that people power really can have an effect on how local politics works, and we have come a long way from the decision in March that prompted me to start the petition. I won’t chronicle the ups and downs of the campaign but will say that after today, we are definitely on an ‘up’.”
“The outcome of today’s cabinet meeting is that Wiltshire Council has committed to work with two preferred bidders – one for each site. For Oxenwood this is Community First who have put together a fantastic bid that will aim to keep the centre going in the long term and which will maintain the uniqueness that Oxenwood is known and loved for.”
“For Braeside, things are a little different. The preferred bidder is Wiltshire College and the proposal sees the closure of Braeside and the transfer of outdoor education facilities to Lackham, a great facility in itself but which currently lacks the facilities to offer what Braeside has.”
“This is bittersweet, as Braeside is continuing to pay its way and will be sorely missed if this proposal goes through.”
It is important to note that Wiltshire Council has also committed to continue to work with other interested bidders for both sites.
“While this process continues, both Braeside and Oxenwood will remain operational until – at the latest – January 2020 which builds in time to make well-informed and well thought through decisions.”
“This is really encouraging and I must acknowledge the process that Wiltshire Council and the Task Force have carried out to get to this point. I am optimistic that the outcome will ensure that outdoor education remains available to future generations of Wiltshire children.”
“I also want to say that – and if you watch today’s webcast of the cabinet meeting, this comment will make sense – this campaign has NEVER been affiliated to ANY political party.”
“It has come from my concern as a parent to ensure that outdoor education continues to be available in Wiltshire. Party politics is, and always has been, irrelevant here.”
“I would, however, like to personally acknowledge the support that this campaign is receiving from a great number of Councillors, particularly the LibDems who actively came on board very early in the campaign and who ‘called in’ the March decision (without which we would not be where we are today), and of Labour who have also become fully supportive and vocal in the campaign.”
“Continued thanks must also go to the 16,800 people who have signed the online and paper petitions, true people power in action!!”
“Watch this space…”
Following the cabinet meeting, Councillor Ian Thorn who leads the Liberal Democrat Group on Wiltshire Council, issued a statement about the ‘proposal to save the service’:
“I hope the Cabinet have learned many lessons here. The original closure of both Braeside and Oxenwood was announced behind closed doors at a Cabinet meeting last March. “
“The time allowed for expressions of interest was too short. Staff were not properly consulted. All of that was wrong. Many people have worked hard including my Liberal Democrat Councillor colleagues to get us to a better place unlike the Labour Councillors who couldn’t be bothered to attend key meetings.”
“Our goal has been to protect Outdoor Education in Wiltshire, and ensure the Council used its every “best effort” to preserve it.”
“But the real heroes are those that organised an immediate public outcry against the closures. They forced a full debate at Wiltshire Council meeting. That led to a complete rethink and another victory for people power in our County.”
“Our job now is to ensure that the final proposals properly reflect the ambitions of Wiltshire residents who have fought so hard to protect this service and represent best value for money for their hard-earned council tax.”
Marlborough.news is trying to establish why a proposal to purchase Braeside and continue to run the service there – and enhance it – was turned down by Wiltshire Council.
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