Next steps in sorry saga of Wiltshire's outdoor education centres

Here's an update* from your WC:

Interested parties will be invited formally to register their interest in Braeside and Oxenwood as going concerns when the two sites are placed on the market.

As part of this process any prospective buyer will need to ensure they meet the requirements for the sites to continue and to be viable as places for outdoor education.

Meanwhile the two sites will remain open until the end of the year and bookings for events in the autumn and provisionally for next year are being taken.

Laura Mayes, responsible cabinet member, said: "We are aware that some people are keen to see these sites continue as outdoor education venues. At a recent meeting of the council's cabinet we agreed to consider any expressions of interest and assess if the sites could continue as a going concern for the future. I am fully supportive of the benefits of outdoor education but have stated that the council is not the right organisation to run these centres in the future. We have to focus on our priorities and align funding to vulnerable children and education priorities. The decision to dispose of Braeside and Oxenwood has not been taken lightly and we will review all expressions of interest and assess the most viable possibility for the future of these sites."

The future of the sites will be considered by cabinet at a meeting later this year.

*Slightly edited to correct grammatical mistakes etc.