THE boss of BMet has rubbished rumours the college is nearly £80million in debt.

Fears were raised by staff members that the college was in debt to the tune of around £77m last week ahead of a meeting at Stourbridge Town Hall organised by trade unionists and former leader of Dudley Council Councillor Pete Lowe to try to save Stourbridge College.

But Cliff Hill, principal and CEO at Birmingham Metropolitan College, has today told the News the "level of debt is not anywhere near the region of £80m" and he confirmed BMet's debt currently stands at £16.4m.

Mr Hall came under fire at the town hall meeting last Wednesday for not attending the event at which it was decided to stage a public protest to show the strength of feeling about the decision to close Stourbridge College in Hagley Road to help reduce BMet's debt levels.

Stourbridge News: Stourbridge CollegeStourbridge College

He said: "Initially, I was keen to attend the meeting but on reflection I did not think the format, as I understood it, would have allowed for a complicated and informed discussion to take place or to consider any solutions for parents/students with concerns."

And he said of the plan to close the college: "I can understand and empathise with the public reaction to the closure of the Hagley Road site and I am saddened by the impact that it is clearly having on my staff and our students and the local community.

“Disappointingly, falling learner numbers combined with a lack of funding meant we were unable to sustain this provision, in its existing locations.

“However by working closely with Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College we have ensured that every learner across the Black Country has continued access to good quality education and we so far we have protected 95 per cent of jobs. We are also working closely with Dudley MBC to look after our most vulnerable learners."

Stourbridge News: Lowell Williams - CEO at Dudley College of TechnologyLowell Williams - CEO at Dudley College of Technology

Lowell Williams, chief executive officer at Dudley College of Technology, said the plan put forward to transfer students from Stourbridge to neighbouring Dudley and Halesowen Colleges "protects all learning places for young people and adults participating in BMet’s provision in Dudley, next academic year and into the future".

He said 779 young people will transfer to Dudley and 530 to Halesowen, while 737 adults will transfer to Dudley College of Technology along with 186 apprentices.

Mr Williams said the jobs of 95 per cent of staff employed by BMet in Stourbridge would be secured - adding: "98 staff will transfer to Dudley College of Technology and 47 to Halesowen College."

Ten staff remain at risk of redundancy and 30 will remain employed by BMet, he confirmed, but added: "Both colleges are working hard with BMet to either identify opportunities for their redeployment in BMet or for them to take up vacancies as they arise in either Dudley or Halesowen College."

He continued: "The financial challenges faced by BMet are regrettable. Unfortunately, many further education colleges are facing similar challenges. Last week saw the first ever notification of the insolvency of a further education, at Hadlow College in Kent.

"Dudley College of Technology and Halesowen College were invited by the FE Commissioner to respond to the challenges faced by BMet. Our response has protected provision for all learners, employment for virtually all staff and has safeguarded the best of BMet’s learning facilities in Dudley borough. In effect, we have done everything we can to help save Stourbridge College.

"Sadly, on-going operations at the Hagley Road site are not viable for the future. Young people and adults will have access to excellent learning facilities in Brierley Hill, Halesowen and Dudley. Every young person will be provided with free travel."

David Williams, principal at Halesowen College, added: "Halesowen College has worked alongside BMet and Dudley College to provide seamless high quality education for all students.

"We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for existing students, staff and new applicants.

"As such, we are arranging open events and welcome evenings to ensure a smooth transition for existing learners and to provide new students with information, advice and guidance about post 16 options."

Responding to concerns the closure of Stourbridge College could lead to an increase in the number of coaches pulling up to Halesowen College - he said: "We do not envisage a significant increase in the volume of coaches.

"The majority of new students live close to existing routes and we would expect them to take advantage of the service.

"We will be discussing any impact of the Stourbridge College closure with local residents at the next Whittingham Road Action Group meeting and have already had productive conversations with local community leaders."

To read the full responses from all three college bosses click here.

Meanwhile - a public protest to highlight the community concern regarding the closure plan is now being organised for Saturday June 29.

Trade unionists have pledged to do all they can to try to overturn the decision to axe the college amid fears it has already been put on the market.

Bosses at BMet, however, say the Hagley Road campus has not yet been valued or put up for sale.

They have, however, met with Old Swinford Hospital School to discuss the school's potential interest in the site - although headteacher Paul Kilbride has so far remained tight-lipped about whether the school will take on the state-of-the-art campus which underwent a £5m revamp four years ago.