Students at an adult education centre have expressed their sadness as staff announce they will be closing after a year of speculation.
Kent County Council (KCC) has confirmed it will be shutting the Victoria Centre in Gravesend and moving classes to a new site in mid-October.
A spokesperson said: “Following the Department for Education’s changes to how the Adult Skills Fund can be used, we are having to make some changes to our centre.
“We are looking to move out of the Victoria Centre, which is too large for our needs, and into another KCC building in Gravesend.
“As part of the move, we are also looking to expand our delivery in the community. We are actively looking for sites throughout the district, such as family hubs and community spaces, to hold both short and longer-term courses.
“Classes will continue at The Victoria Centre until we relocate. The move to the new site is expected in mid-October.”
The government has made changes to its funding to focus on supporting work skill development and prevent subsidies for leisure courses and repeat learners, meaning the centre is no longer viable.
The decision to leave the current centre in Darnley Road has been criticised by students, who previously slammed the proposals.
Karen, who did not wish to give her surname, has been attending stained glass making and jewellery making classes, which she was hoping to continue in September.
However, she claims that she was told the majority of classes will not return in the new term and will be moved to other centres, but it has not been confirmed which.
She said: “It is just something else that we are losing. It is a lovely building, and it is sad that we are going to have something else there.
“The centre has been part of our history for so long. If you have not been to a class there, you will know someone who has.
“The classes are thriving, and it is part of the community. For a lot of people, especially older people, it is their weekly visit out and interaction with others where they talk to like-minded people.”
Last year, KentOnline reported that the Victoria Centre was expected to be shut down as it was said to be in a state of disrepair and would be unaffordable to fix.
In an email sent from then-cabinet member for education and skills, Cllr Rory Love, to Gravesham council leader Cllr John Burden, Cllr Love appeared to confirm the site’s closure.
However, a KCC spokesperson stated that, at the end of August 2024, no final decision had been made on the future of the adult education centre.
It has now been confirmed the centre will close, but it is not known what will become of the iconic town centre building.
