High Borrans cannot remain open with ‘nostalgia’, North Tyneside Council has stated despite protest and petitions against its closure.
The local authority’s ruling Labour group was publicly grilled tonight over the controversial decision by its cabinet to close its Cumbria-based outdoor education centre, High Borrans, by November this year. Opposition councillors came together to support a motion calling for a pause, review, and reversal of the decision, which has sparked public outcry since the announcement earlier this month.
A protest also gathered outside the council’s Cobalt Business Park HQ, ahead of the full council meeting. The Conservative group’s motion to halt the closure was ultimately rejected. The only Labour councillor to join the call to pause the closure was Chirton and Percy Main representative, coun Rebecca O’Keefe.
Council's position on High Borrans
Speaking in the council chamber, cabinet member responsible for education, inclusion, employment and skills, coun Tracy Hallway said: “Like many Members in this Chamber, I know what High Borrans has meant to generations of children and families. Nobody on this side of the Chamber questions the memories made there or the value of outdoor education.
“But this debate cannot simply be about nostalgia. It has to be about whether North Tyneside Council can responsibly continue to own and operate a residential outdoor education centre over 100 miles away in the Lake District.”
Coun Hallway added: “So I have a straightforward question for every councillor supporting this motion. What would you cut to pay for it? Adult social care? Children’s services? Road repairs? Libraries? Parks?”
Cost and usage of the centre
Since the announcement over the closure of High Borrans, the authority has maintained that the facility requires around £3m in order to stay compliant, despite £900,000 being spent on the centre in recent years.
The council has also subsidised the facility by around £165 per child, including the £62,000 per year allocated for out-of-borough pupils. Recent attendance figures indicated the centre had been used by 1,255 pupils from Years 5 to 8, out of a potential cohort of 9,300.
The report on the prospect of closing High Borrans was initially treated as exempt or not available for public view because it included sensitive information and details about staff.
Council officers were on site to speak with colleagues, answer questions and offer support once the decision was made. High Borrans is a non‑statutory, contracted service. Schools choose whether to use the centre, and in recent years, many have opted for alternative providers.
Opposition reaction
Earlier in the debate, the Reform opposition group leader, coun Brian Smith said: “We are here to steward this establishment for the children of this borough.”
Coun Smith continued: “There is no way we cannot find a way to finance and refurbish it for the future generations that are coming through.”
Coun Smith added: “Just to close it in the way we are doing is completely unacceptable.”
