MP urgest Prime Minster to support Purbeck's "Leeson House"

6.00.00pm GMT Wed 4th Feb 2004

Liberal Democrat MP Annette Brooke used her question to the Prime Minister today to try prevent the closure of Leeson House residential centre in Purbeck.

Thousands of local residents have lobbied the County Council, MPs and the local press on the proposed closure of Leeson House, a popular educational field centre based near Swanage in Purbeck.

Addressing the Prime Minister directly, Annette Brooke MP said:

"Will the Prime Minister investigate with Dorset County Council ways of avoiding its proposed closure of Leeson House, an excellent residential, outdoor education centre used by many children from my constituency, and will he reaffirm his belief that the experiences offered by this type of facility should be available to all children?"

The Prime Minister has himself stated that school children benefit greatly from residential stays at activity centres. Leeson House offers very valuable and worthwhile educational visits for young people on wide ranging projects such as environmental studies, geology, ecology, marine life, and art classes.

The Prime Minister asserted the fact that funding for services and decisions on the provision services should come from County Councils and said that the Government was providing additional funding to enable Councils to make such services available where they are desired.