Derbyshire County Council has partially reversed its decision to shut down seven adult education centres across the county, following criticism over the lack of transparency and consultation.
The initial plan would have seen the closure of centres in Wirksworth, Alfreton, Ashbourne, Matlock, Shirebrook, Long Eaton, and Glossop by the end of July. Course providers had already been instructed to vacate the premises before the announcement became public.
The move, which the council attributed to shifts in funding priorities from external education bodies, was not listed on the authority’s website and had not gone through any formal council committee process. The administration had originally framed the closures as building shutdowns rather than service cuts, yet offered no details on alternative locations or continuity of services.
This reversal comes amid mounting pressure to preserve community-based adult education offerings, which are widely regarded as a crucial component in upskilling local workforces and promoting economic participation. Questions remain about the future use of the affected buildings and whether services will be redistributed or centralised, with no official redevelopment plans currently disclosed. The situation continues to raise governance concerns for stakeholders monitoring the council’s decision-making regarding public education infrastructure.
