Sussex Downs merger with South Kent College progress?

Folkestone Liberal Democrat campaigner Gary Fuller has discovered that the Principal of Sussex Downs College, one of South Kent College's prospective merger partners, has visited all three of the South Kent campuses in the past couple of weeks.

The update came in a letter to Gary from the Sussex Downs College themselves. Gary, who is also a member of the Canterbury College Corporation Board, had written to the corporation chairs of West Kent and Sussex Downs Colleges, seeking confirmation that South Kent College's Folkestone campus won't close if merger plans go ahead.

Commenting, Gary said:

"I hadn't realised how far the merger plans were moving forward when I wrote to Sussex Downs College last week."

In response to Gary's letter, the Clerk to the Corporation of Sussex Down's College added:

"He [Dick Holste, Chair of the Sussex Downs College Corporation] was pleased to hear from you and has noted the points you have made about the needs of the Folkestone area and the future provision at that campus."

Included in the response to Gary's letter was information about a presentation to South Kent's board, which is due to take place early next month. Gary has requested that a similar presentation be made to members of Folkestone Town Council at a full council meeting in the near future.