THERE are fears that Bury College could pull out of a planned merger with the University of Bolton.

The Bury Times understands a governors meeting is being called at the college to discuss the proposals on Tuesday.

Under the Government’s shake-up of post-16 education it was agreed to merge Bury College and Bolton College with the University of Bolton – making it one of the country's largest education providers.

The merger of the University of Bolton and Bolton College will still go ahead as planned.

But bosses at Bury College — which was recently told by Ofsted it requires improvement — are understood to be getting cold feet. That is despite the governing body giving the plans the green light last September and principal Charlie Deane being appointed chief executive of the group.

Education bosses said the merger of the two further education colleges with the University of Bolton was described by the department for education as innovative and was being mooted as a national pilot.

The university has now said that "It would be regrettable if anyone or anything derailed such a significant development for the region which is clearly of huge benefit to learners and the community."

It added that the merger would ensure "that a sustainable higher education provision in the form of The University itself was offered in Bury as well as Bolton".

University bosses say they hope that that on the March 28 the "Governors of Bury College will not rescind their previous unanimous decision to merge and will instead actually re affirm their plan to continue with such an exciting opportunity for everyone's benefit".

A University of Bolton spokesman said: "Sometimes small details can cloud judgements on the bigger picture; we understand Bury College's desire to respond to the issues raised in their recent Ofsted report but believe that the best way forward for Bury College is to work with the University and the Bolton College to improve services to learners across both boroughs through the already agreed merger proposals.

“Governors have a duty to do what's best for the college which they steward, there is little doubt in our minds that when the college governors made the decision to merge with us as their local university that the governors were acting in the best interests of the college itself, it's staff and most importantly its students.

"Nothing has changed in this respect so we don't see any reason for them to change their minds right now."

Mr Dean, principal and chief executive of Bury College, said: "Governors have a legal and moral duty to act in the best interests of our students, our college and the communities we serve.

"As part of that duty, the proposed merger is obviously considered at corporation meetings. The next full meeting of the corporation is on March 28."