Fight to save outdoor study centre joined by council

A borough council has joined calls to save an outdoor education centre near Gosport.

Hampshire County Council has started a consultation into shutting Stubbington study centre so it can be turned into a new specialist secure children's home.

The local authority said the home was needed to cope with a high demand for specialist residential care.

Fareham Borough Council has opposed the plan and said a change of use of the site would require planning permission which its committee would "carefully" consider.

The study centre offers residential opportunities and day trips for schools and other youth groups who take part in team-building exercises, physical challenges and environmental awareness activities.

Councillor Simon Martin, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said he would be seeking a meeting with the Hampshire County Council cabinet member to express his reservations about the planned closure.

He said: "While I appreciate that there is an increasing need for facilities offering specialist residential care, this should not be to the detriment of this thriving community hub."

A group of ex-headteachers has also started a campaign to save the centre and there has been an angry and emotional reaction from parents, as well as people who have attended the site in its near 90-year life.

Councillor Nick Adams-King, leader of the county council, said it was experiencing high demand for specialist residential care due to the growing complexity of needs.

He said: "With government funding, promised in the budget, we now have a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a state-of-the-art residential home here in Hampshire."

Hampshire has a two-year budget gap of £175m predicted for the 2025/26 financial year, but the Stubbington centre has not been making a loss.

The proposal would see the centre close from 1 September, with a planning consultation on the new children's home in summer 2026.

People have until 10 February to comment on the issue.

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