College parents get up petition

They fear for the safety of their children, who may have to travel between sites instead of being based at one establishment like Bexhill College.

The parents are not convinced that adequate transport measures will be in place and are furious that neither they nor their children have been properly consulted over the proposals.

Now Linda Smith, of Millfield Rise, is organising a petition demanding their views be taken into consideration.

Mrs Smith is a teacher at Bexhill College but is taking the action as a parent and foster carer to 56 young people over the last 12 years.

She said: "Many of us take our sons and daughters to college, not for the sake of convenience, but for a deeper concern about their safety. How will we know where our young people are?

"When they go to college we know and feel secure in the knowledge that once they arrive they are safe for the day. Under the proposals they will be placing vulnerable young people out onto the streets."

She fears young people could get stranded while travelling or become victims of crime. She is also concerned about the loss of 'community' by splitting up the syllabus over four sites. Under the proposals there would be two sites in Hastings, on in Battle and one in Bexhill.

Mrs Smith added: "Our young people need to feel a sense of belonging to the community they are part of.

"You are thinking of producing an educational system that pushes our young people from place to place. What stability will this give them? You are taking away their choice of going to one educational provider that can offer a package."

Mrs Smith and a number of other parents have been collecting signatures for the petition, which she will submit to the Prime Minister as well as East Sussex County Council and the Learning and Skills council, the two bodies which have developed the proposals.

She is also looking for any shopkeepers willing to leave the petition on their counters for customers to sign.

Anyone who can help can contact Rob Hustwayte at the Bexhill Observer on 854242.