Save Newton Rigg !!!!

[thesilentone]

Newton Rigg College will be closed in July 2021, unless some efforts are made to save it. This is an Agricultural College in the middle of the UK's most farming dominated County. The knock-on effect will be devastating to Cumbria, especially now. Efforts are being made, however the more awareness there is of Newton Rigg's plight the better. Newton Rigg has been in existence since 1896, it would be a travesty if it were lost due to circumstances in a small window of time.

 

[Agrivator]

Get in touch with the Principal and Governors at SRUC in Edinburgh.

 

[grainboy]

Why closing, must be reasons ?

 

[nonemouse]

Why closing, must be reasons ?

Because it’s been a financial black hole for Askham Bryan, after ABC ‘rescued it’ last time was faced with closure. Back in the late 1990s I think.

 

[toquark]

They closed the forestry college at Newton Rigg a few years back, and moved the campus to Ambleside. Now students (from all over the UK) have to travel 1 hour off the M6 and compete with the tourist dollar for accommodation in a honey pot town, no space for expansion and car parking is near impossible.

Meanwhile two-bit ex polytechnics get all the money in the world thrown at them to churn graduates in queer studies and golf course management. Makes you wonder who on earth is running (ruining?) these institutions.

 

[nonemouse]

Because it’s been a financial black hole for Askham Bryan, after ABC ‘rescued it’ last time was faced with closure. Back in the late 1990s I think.

Just checked it only officially became part of Askham Bryan in 2011, but think there was some transfer of staff and management before then. certainly it hasn’t been an independent educational establishment since the late 90’s

 

[Martin Holden]

Would be a great shame to see it lost. Perhaps they have to think outside the box and diversify a bit into other non teaching activities? They have a good campus and farm with land

 

[vantage]

Would be a great shame to see it lost. Perhaps they have to think outside the box and diversify a bit into other non teaching activities? They have a good campus and farm with land

Same thing happened to Seale Hayne, the link to Plymouth Poly sucked the life out of the old place.

 

[Martin Holden]

Same thing happened to Seale Hayne, the link to Plymouth Poly sucked the life out of the old place.

I know. I was living down there when it closed. The campus was a fantastic setting and it was one of the best if not best for Dairy farming related courses. Great loss to the industry.

 

[vantage]

I know. I was living down there when it closed. The campus was a fantastic setting and it was one of the best if not best for Dairy farming related courses. Great loss to the industry.

Absolutely, I was there in its heyday, just as it joined with PP. 100 agrics on the HND!

 

[Martin Holden]

Absolutely, I was there in its heyday, just as it joined with PP. 100 agrics on the HND!

I left College in 1979! I think I had the best of times as afterwards the pressures started to show.

 

[grainboy]

Same with Shuttleworth, taken over by Writtle, then Cranfield and now Beds college,
Some farming education, but also exotic animals, forestry and equine, not much more than 6th College,

 

[Sid]

I know. I was living down there when it closed. The campus was a fantastic setting and it was one of the best if not best for Dairy farming related courses. Great loss to the industry.

Worked next door during sandwich year at Bicton.
Spent too much time in the bar

 

[Gedd]

Is there actually enough people coming into agriculture to keep it open

 

[Boysground]

Absolutely, I was there in its heyday, just as it joined with PP. 100 agrics on the HND!

I was there about then left in 1990 I think, that time is a little hazy. Still have my Bar Club membership card in my wallet

Bg

 

[Sid]

Is there actually enough people coming into agriculture to keep it open

The issue is that colleges go round in fashion.

When I was at Bicton people came from all across the country.
As far as Bristol,Hereford,Kent and Yorkshire.

When they fall out of favour they have the costs but not the students.

 

[steveR]

Same with Shuttleworth, taken over by Writtle, then Cranfield and now Beds college,
Some farming education, but also exotic animals, forestry and equine, not much more than 6th College,

Chuck Walford into that pot too....

Just not enough Ag students I guess. I would say that the industry would benefit from 3-4 dedicated Ag Colleges/Unis

 

[oldoaktree]

They closed the forestry college at Newton Rigg a few years back, and moved the campus to Ambleside. Now students (from all over the UK) have to travel 1 hour off the M6 and compete with the tourist dollar for accommodation in a honey pot town, no space for expansion and car parking is near impossible.

Meanwhile two-bit ex polytechnics get all the money in the world thrown at them to churn graduates in queer studies and golf course management. Makes you wonder who on earth is running (ruining?) these institutions.

It’s not an hour from the m6 to Ambleside and student accommodation is actually compared to other university towns very reasonable. There’s plenty of it too . The university refurbished quite a lot of buildings and built some new student blocks with there own car park . Then there’s the private stuff also .

 

[Katarina]

Just checked it only officially became part of Askham Bryan in 2011, but think there was some transfer of staff and management before then. certainly it hasn’t been an independent educational establishment since the late 90’s

I was there in the early 90s when it was an independent college. It then joined up with the University of Central Lancashire. Its been down hill since then from what i understand. Askham Bryant just wants to reap the rewards of selling it off now to line its pockets.
Its a travesty how its come to this.
This is an unique college and second to none in my opinion with a lowland Dairy farm along with a working upland farm that gave students like myself the opportunity to study NDh which was the only Hill Farming National Diploma available in the UK from my knowledge .
It was also regarded as the no 1 Forestry college to attend in the Uk with many Irish students crossing the waters to gain high quality education .

Shame on all parties involved that have let things come to this .

 

[Martin Holden]

Worked next door during sandwich year at Bicton.
Spent too much time in the bar

Where did all Ag students spend time?? College bar - I was even on the bar committee, so had to run several nights. Still got some free beer!