Backlash over North Tyneside Council’s decision to shut High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre continues, with the public, local councillors, and Cumbrian MP Tim Farron now weighing in. The council announced earlier this week that it would close the beloved centre in Cumbria by November, sparking outrage and heartbreak among generations who have cherished memories there since the council acquired the property in 1967.
Financial Challenges and Declining Usage
The centre requires over £3 million worth of investment to remain open, and school trips are reportedly dwindling, leaving the centre “no longer financially viable,” according to the council. The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to residents in Whitley Bay about the closure.
Geoff Carr, 63, from Blyth, said: “We go to the Lakes two-three-four times a year, anything like that they should keep open, for my money it should be kept open. It’s good for the kids.” His older brother Bill Carr, 68, recalled similar facilities near Ullswater from their childhood, adding: “I can think of a lot of worse things to spend money on. It was always available to us.”
Personal Memories and Community Impact
Arlene Borthwick, 64, of Whitley Bay, told the LDRS about her time at High Borrans as a child. “I went when I was a school kid, I really loved it. The kids around here are lucky that they can go to the beach, but I don’t know how often they get to the countryside with the economic challenges. We had to write about the day, and the teacher read mine out, and it had the kids in stitches. It was the first time I realised I had the capacity to deliver comedy. It made a real impact on me.” Arlene continued: “I hadn’t been anywhere like that before; we didn't have a car. They should try to keep it.”
David Borthwick, 64, added about his school trip in 1977: “The main thing I remember is the views, they were amazing. It gave you a taste for how special the place is and hill climbing is, it was fantastic.”
Petition and Political Pressure
A petition to prevent the closure has garnered over 900 signatures at the time of publication. Johnathan Robson, 38, from North Tyneside, said: “I think it is really short-sighted, they have got an infrastructure in place that they could maintain, building a new one is never going to open. Relatively speaking, it’s accessible for the kids and schools. It is not a really expensive trip that people can’t afford; it makes it more accessible for the kids in the community.”
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and former Liberal Democrat leader, wrote to North Tyneside Council’s chief executive, stating: “I am sure you will appreciate that this is absolutely devastating news. Outdoor education is an absolutely incredible resource that is transformational for kids from across the country.” He concluded: “I would like to request that North Tyneside Council recognises the strong public support for the continued operation of this site, and review whether losing it is the correct decision.”
Council Scrutiny and Financial Details
The leader of North Tyneside Council’s Tory group, councillor John Johnsson, questioned why the decision was not subject to councillor scrutiny. He said: “Once again, we have a major decision affecting residents being brought forward with little meaningful consultation. That is becoming an increasingly worrying pattern. High Borrans means a great deal to local families, and people deserved the opportunity to be involved before reaching this point. Councillors should also have been properly engaged and able to scrutinise the financial position as it developed. Residents will rightly ask how the £3 million maintenance was allowed to continue growing and whether earlier consultation and transparency could have helped identify alternative solutions.”
A Labour group spokesperson defended the decision, saying: “High Borrans is a valued part of North Tyneside’s outdoor education offer, but it is only one way of providing those experiences. Schools are not required to use the centre, and fewer than half of North Tyneside schools currently do so. Of the 1,635 children booked to attend this year, 380 are from outside North Tyneside, meaning just 1,255 North Tyneside pupils, from a potential cohort of 9,300 Year 5 to 8 pupils, are expected to use the centre, with many schools already choosing other higher quality outdoor education providers.”
The council currently subsidises the centre with around £165 per child, including more than £62,000 a year to support places for children from outside North Tyneside. The spokesperson added the £3.4m needed would have to come from borrowing, and the costs could not be met by the loss-making centre, meaning the costs would fall on the council’s General Fund. The spokesperson concluded: “When councils are under unprecedented financial pressure, it is right to ask whether continuing to invest millions of pounds in a single residential facility represents the best use of public money, particularly when North Tyneside children can continue to access higher quality outdoor learning through a range of other providers.”
Rebecca Wall, director of children’s services at North Tyneside Council, said: “The Council has taken the difficult decision to close High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre following a detailed review of its usage, costs and long-term sustainability. We know how valued the centre is and the important role it has played for many years. However, like councils across the country, we are facing significant financial pressures. The level of investment required to maintain and modernise the centre, alongside the ongoing subsidy needed to support each visit, means it is no longer financially viable. We recognise the impact this decision will have on our dedicated staff team and on schools with existing bookings. We are committed to working closely with them to provide support and ensure a carefully managed transition.”
