I am deeply saddened that neither of the two bids have been successful in the review process to be formally approved to secure a viable future for the Newton Rigg Campus.  I know this will be incredibly upsetting to everyone as we have been working hard on the campaign to find a way forward. My thoughts are with the staff and students who are adversely affected as well as the wider community. I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the Newton Rigg staff for continuing to provide such first class education to the young people of Cumbria throughout this difficult period. 

Although this news is not what we as a community would have liked, I want to affirm that this is not the end. It is vital that we continue to fight to maintain Land-Based education for our young people in Cumbria. We already have strong local and national support as well as political support, and I am continuing to work with stakeholders near and far, as well as local government and national government to ensure educational provision in some form can continue. This will aim to give us the platform from which a new Newton Rigg can emerge. Live discussions are continuing and plans are taking shape to look into other potential solutions for continuity of educational provision in Eden and I am continuing to engage with Ministers this week to ask for their continued support. 

I will not give up fighting for Newton Rigg and Land-based educational provision. We as a community will not give up. It is important that we look to the future and not to view this as the end of Newton Rigg. The message still remains: Penrith needs Newton Rigg, Cumbria needs Newton Rigg, the UK needs Newton Rigg.