Gloucestershire Outdoor Education Centres To Be Sold

20th May 2011

Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed that two of its Outdoor Education Centres will be sold. The South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre will be offered as a going concern through a long term leasehold arrangement and The Wilderness Centre in Mitcheldean will be closed and offered for sale. The move is part of £45m saving plans by the Conservative-run council. A group of local users had previously put forward a bid to run the South Cerney Centre themselves but this was rejected despite the presentation of a 6,000 signature petition. Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for communities, said in a report that, in determining who is to lease the site, due consideration would be given to existing users and the local community. "We cannot afford to continue to run these sites ourselves and the money from their sale will help us significantly reduce our debt, so we will look to achieve the best possible price."

Source: BBC Gloucestershire