A LEARNING centre which was forced to close after a cut in funding could reopen...but only if council plans go ahead.

The Wickford Collaboration of Schools shut its centre in Grange Avenue, Wickford, on December 31 after a decade of offering schoolchildren additional learning support.

But now a motion put to Basildon Council by councillor David Harrison could see it reopen as a learning centre.

The motion states: “Whilst noting that the leader of the council has written to Essex County Council seeking an urgent positive resolution, the council regrets the closure of the Wickford Collaborative Learning Centre, and instructs the chief executive to initiate an urgent meeting with the county council, together with interested schools, to seek a way of keeping this valuable Wickford facility open.”

Rachel Voller, 50, who ran the organisation, said she would be willing to work with the council to get it reopen to the public.

She said: “It would be nice to have it reopen as an education centre.

“I am not sure what route it would take, but it would be great to have it reopen again for the public to put it to good community use.

“I would never say never about working with the council to get the service back.

“I have a lot of experience in running the centre and can help to inform the council about what works well there.”

She added: “It all depends on the plans by the council and county council.

“I am very passionate about the centre and what it can offer. There are so many questions and always the issue of funding.”

The centre was set up after a £3.5million grant from the Government and offered students additional learning on top of the school curriculum, using technology not used in schools.

The schools which worked with the centre included Abacus Primary and Castledon Special School.

The centre’s income, outside of what each school paid for their use, was raised from through community bookings.