18 July 2016
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed a formal commitment made by Warwickshire College Group who will be taking over the running of the popular Link Nurseries.
The group – which is currently merging its operations with South Worcestershire College – will run courses from the site as part of a rescue bid backed by Harriett.
The Bransford Trust was key in securing the future of the site and Harriett was keen to pay tribute to the people who worked behind the scenes after the Worcestershire Health and Care Trust withdrew funding for courses run at Powick.
The MP worked with local organisations and identified a number of rescue options and worked with local people and the Link Friends to find a way to secure the future of the site.
Harriett commented: “We were all disappointed to see the Health and Care Trust take steps to end services delivered at Link Nurseries, the final plot of the old Powick Hospital.
“Its heritage is very important to the local community and the nurseries were well used by kcal people.
“I have always thought that we should do all we can to preserve the site and this was echoed by all the meetings I had with friends of Link nurseries.
“I am grateful for the efforts of Colin Kinnear at the Bransford Trust for working so hard to provide a structure for saving the site as well as the commitment from Warwickshire College Group.
“Some services were already offered through Pershore College on site and I met with the principal from the college to ask them to use the site more. She has agreed to do that and I look forward to a formal meeting with all parties to thank them for their efforts in due course.”