THE chief executive of Coleg Gwent has refused to rule out the potential closure of one of its campuses, after receiving a poor funding settlement from the Assembly.

Officials at Coleg Gwent have started a review into its future financial stability after the Assembly gave it a 0 per cent funding increase for the current financial year.

Despite speculation that the Pontypool campus is now vulnerable to closure, chief executive Howard Burton said that no proposals have been put forward to close any Coleg Gwent sites.

However, Mr Burton was unable to confirm that this will be the case at the end of the review process in January.

He said: “We have a lot of things to think about and we must review everything we do. That applies to all our campuses not just Pontypool.

“I would like to reassure existing students, parents and staff that all our campuses are open for business.

“We are very disappointed with the funding settlement and have been in continual debate with senior civil servants about the situation.”

Mr Burton also gave his assurances that no pupil with a current course at Coleg Gwent will be affected by the financial constraints.

Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, who taught at the Ebbw Vale campus for 17 years before becoming the area's MP in 1987, attended a briefing at Coleg Gwent for Gwent MPs and AMs on October 17.

He said: “There are big issues here. I am now in the process of trying to set up a meeting with Education Minister Jane Hutt and her Deputy John Griffiths to see if there can be another look at the funding.”

College managers and governors have met to assess their options as part of the strategic review.

Mr Burton added that a number of options and a significant amount of detailed work remains to be completed before recommended options are presented to Coleg Gwent’s board of governors in January.

An Assembly spokesman said: "In Wales, we're entering the second year of a tight three-year budget settlement. This has meant difficult choices and the increasing need to get maximum value for the public money we invest in education and training.

"Funding for FE is not allocated in financial years, but on an academic year basis. In 07/08 Coleg Gwent received just over £38m and in 08/09 they also received the same, just over £38m. "

Further education provided for 34,000

Coleg Gwent was established in 1994 by bringing together five further education colleges in Gwent and its budget for this academic year is £50 million.

The college is the largest further education provider in Wales with nearly 1,700 staff and 34,000 pupils.

It has six main campuses in Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.

The college has invested heavily in its campuses in recent years including spending £5 million in Pontypool and a proposed £13 million new build at its Cross Keys site.