WIGAN and Leigh College principal Margaret Murdin has offered £10,000 a year rent to the Atherton Centre to hold some of this winter's night school and daytime vocational courses.

But so far the Centre's management has not made up their mind.

It leaves Fred Longworth High School as the only definite venue for classes forced to move with the imminent closure of Tyldesley Centre.

A confident Mrs Murdin said she would definitely be keeping all courses funded by the college, though some non-vocational courses could face the chop if no venue was found or if students were unwilling to fork out higher fees.

The college, she said, was unable to subsidise night school classes and the Local Education Authority seemed in no position to throw extra money into the pot.

Mrs. Murdin said: "Some of the classes are funded by the college and these will definitely be staying open although they will be, by necessity, taking place in other venues. We have already arranged that some will go to Fred Longworth High School and we are negotiating with Atherton Centre to take some. We have offered £10,000 a year rent to them and hope we can come to an arrangement.

"The Local Education Authority has promised £20,000 this year, but if this is not forthcoming we will still be happy to run classes though we won't be able to subsidise them, so students will have to pay more.

"It is regrettable that Tyldesley Centre is having to close but it is a very expensive to run and overheads are very high so we are making a big loss. I feel sorry for some elderly people who have come to regard the Tyldesley Centre as ideal for their needs, and who will be forced to go to another venue which may be some distance away."

And principal, who took over three years ago, was quick to quash rumours spreading this week that former principal Peter Hoddinott was keen to buy the building for use as a training centre.

She said: "There is absolutely no truth in the rumour which started after Mr. Hoddinott was seen visiting the Centre recently. The building will be put on the open market as soon as it is vacated."

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