SEEVIC College is closing its Basildon campus after its government funding was slashed by £1.2million.


The college, which has its main campus in Benfleet, said it could no longer afford to keep running a satellite centre after suffering the cash cut.


Thirty-two staff now face losing their jobs while students could have to take buses to Benfleet to complete their courses.


Principal and chief executive Nick Spenceley said: “This was an incredibly difficult but unfortunately necessary decision to take, based on the disproportionate costs of running a satellite centre in times of economic constraint.


“Although New Campus Basildon is bearing the brunt of these cuts, this is not a reflection on the performance or outstanding commitment of staff and students.”


The campus in Church Walk will shut in July with tearful staff and students told the news last Thursday.


The campus is home to 398 students, with 116 sent to continue their studies next year.


Seevic says it will lay on a free bus service to ferry students to its main Benfleet campus so they can continue their studies on a variety of vocational, A-Level and apprenticeship qualifications.


They will be offered places on “equivalent programmes”.


The college said it would try to relocate a number of the 32 staff to Benfleet, but it will also be entering a process of compulsory redundancies.


Pupils due to start at the college in September will be offered places in Benfleet too.