West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has expressed her shock at a secret decision to cease operations at Malvern Hills College and sell the building.

The college put out a statement last week confirming that it is permanently moving courses to Evesham forcing students onto expensive public transport, and selling the historic site which first started welcoming students in 1886.

The Warwickshire College Group, which now runs the site from its head office in Leamington Spa, halted teaching in Malvern earlier in the year, blaming Covid-19 restrictions and it has now decided to make the temporary closure permanent.

Harriett said: “I am shocked with the Warwickshire College Group for taking this decision at a time when training young people could not be more important, and I am saddened for those people taking courses like hair dressing or beauty therapy who are faced with a long diversion to Evesham to continue their studies.

“They also have done it without even a consultation or the courtesy of sharing their thinking with me. In fact, when the group took over the Malvern site they promised they would invest. Last week’s Spending Review delivered a £375 million investment in skills.

“This feels like a very short-term decision, bearing in mind our national need to help young people to get the skills they need to compete in a difficult job market.

“The college group has rightly looked to expand its digital skills teaching capability and we should be doing more teaching locally, not less.

“I’ve asked for an urgent conversation with principal Angela Joyce to understand her thinking and to reassure me that this is not just an asset-stripping exercise.”