A FEASIBILITY study has been commissioned to consider the future of Coleg Harlech and the possibility that residential adult education could be provided there once again.
The study, commissioned by site managers WEA YMCA Community College Cymru, seeks to involve residents and learning communities in and around Harlech to ensure a broad range of ideas is considered for the future of Coleg Harlech.
One of those ideas is to look at whether they can offer residential education to students.
The college has not offered residential facilities since selling them all off to raise funds in 2013.
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The study group say they are keen for the college resources such as the library, squash courts, art exhibition space and community based classes to become beneficial to the public.
Chief executive of WEA YMCA Community College Cymru, Mark Isherwood said: “The Coleg Harlech has been recognised nationally and internationally for enabling adults to develop their capacity to learn and fulfil their potential, however with the reduction of public funding, the Harlech campus will need to become innovative and aspirational to secure its future and contribute to the regeneration of the area.
“WEA YMCA Community College Cymru is committed to finding the best possible future for the site and the town.
“We have appointed Clear Thinking Strategy & Planning to produce a feasibility study and a costed, implementable and time-scaled business plan by March 2016 and look forward to working with them and all of our stakeholders over the next few months.”
Jane Richardson of Clear Thinking Strategy & Planning, said: “We are delighted to be undertaking this study on behalf of WEA YMCA Community College Cymru.
“We look forward to meeting the community and prospective learners to consider how the Coleg can contribute to the town’s economy, and support Harlech as a world class visitor destination.”
The study will be presented to the Coleg Harlech Steering Group, which was established by WEA Cymru in March 2015 to oversee options for the sustainability of the Coleg Harlech site, early in the New Year.