STUDENTS have received the news they were dreading after a college announced cuts to its courses.

Following a consultation, Greenwich Community College (GCC) has confirmed it will close its Meridian Music Centre at East Greenwich Library and end its provision of A-Level and GCSE foreign language courses at the end of this term.

Other courses to be cut include musical theatre and higher education courses in combined studies, music, social science and teaching.

The college, which has announced 17 staff redundancies so far with more to follow, claims it has been forced into the action after its government funding was slashed by £750,000.

Principal Geoff Vine said: “We have reluctantly had to make these cuts to secure the future of the college and more importantly future training opportunities for local people.”

He added: “It is astounding that these cuts are happening to colleges locally, regionally and nationally at a time when residents need skills training more than ever.”

But college music business studies tutor Marc Bell has questioned why the music centre was being closed when it had a projected profit of £60,000.

He said: “Greenwich borough has one of the highest knife and gun crime in London and should continue to benefit from this kind of centre.

“If this type of provision is removed the GCC should no longer consider itself a community college.”

French and Spanish AS-Level student Connor Byrne, 17, petitioned all the other language students to keep their courses going.

He said: “My only chance to go to university through this college is falling away in front of me.

“There’s nowhere else like it in the area.”