THE county council is hoping an independent company will foot the bill after it pulls the plug on funding for an outdoor education centre.

As a result of reduced government grants, Oxfordshire County Council said it can no longer fund maintenance and services costs at the Hill End Centre in Eynsham Road, Farmoor.

A consultation was launched with Oxford University yesterday to consider setting up an independent charitable company to run and fund the centre instead.

Melinda Tilly, county council cabinet member for children, education and families, said: “Hill End has a proud history of providing life-enhancing outdoor activities for children, young people and the wider community.

“We want to ensure this work continues, but that there are also opportunities to enhance services at the centre in future.

“At this stage we are investigating the option of a charitable companyand we want to hear feedback from schools and other stakeholders, as well as the general public.

“We know how much people value the outdoor activities and education programmes provided by Hill End, and this is a positive opportunity to secure the centre’s future for years to come.”

Since the 1950s, Hill End has provided schools and groups of adults and young people with “life-enhancing” outdoor activities.

The centre is part of the original Wytham estate bought in the 1920s by Raymond Ffennell and his wife Hope, who were interested in creating opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

The 62-acre site is owned by Oxford University and has been leased and managed by the county council since 1974.

Prof William James, the university’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for planning, said: “We are pleased to be working with the county council to find a way to ensure that children and young adults will be able to benefit from the facilities at Hill End for generations to come.”

A team of volunteers manages the site, which includes a variety of habitats such as grassland, ponds and streams, marshland and developing woodland.

Selby Dickinson, service manager at the centre, said: “We know how much people value the activities we provide here at Hill End and everyone involved with the centre wants to see that work continue.

“We are always looking at ways we can improve services and this consultation is an opportunity for people to help shape the centre’s future.”

The consultation will run until February 5 and will be followed by further work to develop a proposal for a charitable company model.

If approved, a timetable for setting up the charitable company would be agreed in April 2016.

For more details, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/consultation.