Plug pulled on education centre (From Leigh Journal)

Plug pulled on education centre

10:00am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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AN education centre that has taught 40,000 school pupils the importance of looking after the environment is to close.

Hope Carr Barn, off Warrington Road, Leigh will shut at the end of March as part of cutbacks by United Utilities.

The centre near the Greyhound island opened in 1995 and holds classes highlighting the Water Cycle and the environment.

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “Following a tough final determination from our regulator, the business has had to look carefully at what it is required to deliver - which fundamentally is water and wastewater services.

“In order to ensure the focus remains on the core services our customers expect, this has led to difficult decisions being made in regards to our education service.

“The final determination and the challenges being faced in the current economic climate means that the business can no longer afford to maintain this service.

“We will continue however to provide some education provision, such as warning children of the dangers of swimming in reservoirs and visiting schools to talk about major investment works.”

United Utilities' outdoor centre at Rivington, which teaches children about nature has escaped the axe.

The Anderton Centre, on the banks of Rivington Reservoir, will remain open because, although owned by United Utilities, it is independently run and managed by the Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative charity.