Adult education

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Chris Coghlan has welcomed a Surrey County Council report that highlights the lack of Adult Education provision in Leatherhead, Dorking and Horley.

Since East Surrey College took over the service from the County Council in 2010, all Adult Education facilities in our area have been closed. Courses are now provided solely from the college’s Redhill base despite the lack of any direct public transport links to East Surrey College which makes it very difficult for residents to attend these courses.

East Surrey College has also dropped the ‘community learning’ courses that are popular with many adult learners – excluding Mole Valley residents from courses that are still offered in Adult Education Centres in the west of Surrey.

Chris said, “Mole Valley District Council has sought to cover some of the gaps with the creation of the Employment and Skills Hub. But much more needs to be done. As a start, local libraries could be used to provide the community learning courses that are currently missing from the curriculum.”

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Hazel Watson, who has led the campaign to reinstate Adult Education provision to Leatherhead and Dorking, is delighted that Chris is supporting the campaign.