Durham Outdoor Centres May Close

26th April 2011

Durham County Council is considering the sale or closure of two Outdoor Education centres as it strives to save £200,000 over the next 4 years. The centres under threat are the Westgate Centre, in Weardale and the Earls Orchard Centre near Richmond. The Earl Orchards Centre, a former hostel has been open since 1946 and needs more than £1m to bring the 100- year-old building up to an acceptable standard. Closing the centre would save the council £80,000 a year. Money saved from the closures or sales could be used to provide essential investment upgrades at the Middleton Centre operated by Durham County Council in Teesdale.

Source: The Northern Echo