Campaigners gathered outside North Tyneside Council's headquarters at Cobalt Business Park on September 24 as full council met to discuss a petition calling for the reversal of the decision to close High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre.
The petition, which amassed 2,410 signatures, urges the council to reverse its decision to close the Cumbria-based outdoor learning centre by November. The local authority confirmed last month that the petition had surpassed the 2,000-name threshold needed to trigger the debate.
Closure decision and financial pressures
The decision to close High Borrans was made in July, with North Tyneside Council stating the facility is “no longer financially viable.” The council-owned centre in Windermere, in the council's hands since the 1960s, requires a £3m investment at a time when the local authority, like councils nationwide, is experiencing financial pressures.
North Tyneside Council has previously stated that a £3million maintenance bill, declining school trips, and hefty subsidies now render High Borrans unviable. The Labour leadership has remained unwavering in its stance that the site will cease operating by November, stating it cannot remain in council hands on 'nostalgia' alone.
Petition and campaign response
The decision caused a public outcry, and a petition was launched calling for the centre to remain open. The petition read: “Outdoor education is not an optional extra. It is an essential part of a well-rounded education. Experiences beyond the classroom challenge young people in ways that cannot be replicated through textbooks or screens. They encourage problem-solving, foster social skills, support mental well-being, and help children discover strengths they never knew they possessed.”
The Save High Borrans Campaign was formed in August to keep High Borrans open and accessible. It had even considered lodging a judicial review to legally examine the council's process for determining the closure. The group comprises Conservative and Green councillors, a lone Labour councillor, the GMB trade union, the Friends of High Borrans, activists, and residents.
The petition will be heard by every councillor in the September 24 meeting.
