THE head of a Devon college is  asking for public support in a  bid to get a Government quango  to change its mind over a crucial funding issue.

An online petition has been  launched by Bicton College as it  tries to get the Learning and  Skills Council to reinstate its  £3m backing for plans to form a  federation with Exeter College.

Bicton would have become   part of the Exeter College group    as a wholly-owned subsidiary,  but retaining its own  identity  and name.

But the colleges have received a  letter from the  LSC  saying it  would now be unable to   support  the proposal by investing around £3m to cover  previous  losses incurred by Bicton.  Instead, it proposed  Exeter    should handle  the debts with a  loan over five years.

But, as reported in the Echo,  Exeter College has announced it  will pull out of the federation  proposals on Friday unless the  LSC changes its mind.

The LSC has said it is “working with both colleges” to find a  solution, but Bicton College  principal and chief executive  David Henley is urging people  to throw their weight behind a  petition to prove the level of  support for the federation.

He said: “Bicton College and  Exeter College have been working for 12 months on a plan to  form a federation which will  resolve Bicton’s past financial  difficulties and provide a secure  future for Bicton as Devon’s  only land-based college.

 “During the course of the  year, Bicton has restructured  its business and made tremendous progress in improving its  financial performance.

“But the LSC decided at the  last minute to demand that Exeter College pay the cost of Bicton’s past debts, contrary to  earlier indications and contrary to the public consultation  on our plan commissioned by  the LSC just before Christmas.

“The LSC’s attempt to force a  completely different financial  solution is unacceptable to Exeter College because it would  affect their own financial  health.”

“Both Bicton and Exeter want  the LSC to honour their previous commitments, because  this has been proven to be the  most cost-effective option to secure the future of Bicton College.

 “The college is not closing,  but the current uncertainty undermines the outstanding progress we have made recently,”  he said.

“We intend to demonstrate  the support that the Federation  has through lobbying the LSC  and our politicians through the  petition which was launched  yesterday. Every day of uncertainty costs the public purse  more.  We want the LSC to act  now to end this nonsense.”

Mr Henley also suggested the  recent publicity over the LSC  issues led to “fantastic support”  of its Lambing Sunday event at  the weekend.

A record 1,800 people attended the event, during which seven ewes gave birth to 14 lambs.

More than  £8,000 was taken on  the day and three couples  booked weddings in the college’s Georgian mansion  house.

 A total of 520 people also  signed up to a paper petition on  the day ahead of the launch of  the online campaign.

Anyone wishing to add their  name to the petition should visit  www.bicton.ac.uk