On Wednesday, a month-long public consultation will be launched outlining a proposal to merge the agricultural Coleg Llysfasi near Ruthin and Deeside College.

Coleg Llysfasi has its own commercially run farm and delivers courses in agriculture, forestry and conservation while Deeside College has provided land-based courses since its merger with the Welsh College of Horticulture last August.

The consultation gives interested members of the community an opportunity to put forward their views. Open meetings will also take place later this month.

According to Paul Williams, chair of the governors at Deeside College, which has sites at Connah's Quay and Northop, the merger would have great benefits for education, training and skills development in north-east Wales.

The public consultation document and public meetings will enable us to consult in an open and transparent manner and we look forward to hearing public opinion, said Mr Williams.

The chair of the governors at Coleg Llysfasi, Mike Pickering OBE, said he believed a merged college would provide a more comprehensive, flexible and responsive curriculum offering.

It will also benefit employers and will provide security to land-based education and training in the region, he said.

Copies of the consultation document are available at both colleges, public libraries and can be downloaded from www.deeside.ac.uk and www.llysfasi.ac.uk

Source: Farmers Weekly Interactive - for any queries related to the above news item contactfwi.newsdesk@rbi.co.uk