News about Ushaw

Today's edition of the Newcastle Journal carries an interesting article about Ushaw College. It is headed:

Church will discuss bid to reverse closure plan

The article indicates that, at a meeting later this month, the trustees of Ushaw College will be considering the online petition calling for the closure of Ushaw College to be halted. It goes on to quote a representative of Ushaw College as saying that the college was aware of the petition to forestall the closure and ends withe the comment: "Nobody was available from the college's trustees for comment".

The petition, which can be found at:

www.ipetitions.com/petitions/ushaw

calls on the trustees of Ushaw College (who are the bishops of the dioceses of the northern province plus the bishop of Shrewsbury and are under the chairmanship of Archbishop Kelly) not to close Ushaw until there is proper consultation, and there has been a full examination of alternative alternative uses. The petition has attracted over 700 signitures.

Whilst this report is cause for much encouragement, the task of putting forward an a viable business plan, and convincing the trustees to accept it, still remains. Many suggestions have been made for the future of Ushaw College and more would be welcome. It does seem to be the case that there is a widespread body of opinion emerging that is determined to see Ushaw saved.