DUNFERMLINE and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty has addressed concerns over the future of further education in the city, promising “there will always be a college in West Fife”.

With Fife College’s decision to withdraw from the Elmwood Campus in Cupar in June 2016, there are fears that the college could pull out of Dunfermline too and centralise learning in Kirkcaldy.

However, Mr Docherty insisted that would never be the case.

“There isn’t a scenario where there won’t be a college in West Fife,” he said.

“It’s too big not to have one.

“The question is whether it will be a first-class provider of education or whether there will be a reduction in courses and downscaling on a smaller campus in the town centre.

“I’m concerned that if they fail to get an agreement in the new year that either moves the college to the Shepherds site or regenerates the existing site that it will be forced onto a smaller site with fewer courses.” Mr Docherty admitted that the decision regarding Elmwood did not come as a surprise, and he wants a swift decision made on the future of the Dunfermline campus.

“I talk to the college regularly and meet with them on a regular basis,” he said.

“The decision to withdraw from Elmwood was not a surprise announcement, it was a consequence of the decision to merge colleges, something we’ve been warning about.

“I have two criticisms - first of all, for the past two and a half years the students, staff and community have been left hanging.

“The Scottish Government has dragged its feet over decisions on campuses and there needs to finally be a decision in the new year.

“It’s unacceptable that this is causing huge uncertainty for staff, students and prospective future students.

“Secondly, the college management needs to talk to the Dunfermline Press and the wider community about its strategy for the next five to 10 years.

“I hope the college board makes a new resolution to act and talk about education provision in West Fife.

“It would be completely unacceptable to reduce the provision of education in West Fife - it can and should grow but we can only do it if there is a regeneration of the existing site or a move to the Shepherds site.”