A CENTRE used by many Farnworth and Little Hulton students to learn a trade is to close in August.

A total of 200 training places in construction, catering, hair and beauty and landscape gardening for 14-16 year olds will be lost.

Managers of the Silverdale Vocational Centre at Swinton say they are being forced to close its doors permanently following a dispute with Salford Council over the lease of the premises.

The council has reduced the lease period on the premises from two years to one year - a move which centre managers claim prevents them from providing sustainable vocational programmes to schools.

Frank Hankinson, Managing Director of Partners in the Community Limited, which manages the centre, said that over the past two years £500,000 had been invested in Silverdale.

Partners in the Community have managed the centre since February 2002 and achieved a 90 per cent success rate in progressing pupils into apprenticeships, jobs and college courses.

In February it was announced that subsidies for places at the centre from the Learning and Skills Council would end this month and therefore the centre would close.

Partners applied for the lease of the building and a two year lease offer was made by the council in May enabling Partners to sustain provision for existing pupils and offer two year courses for new learners starting in September.

But on July 7, Salford Council reduced the terms of the lease to one year.

A Salford City Council spokesman said: "Many of these courses are now offered by other providers in the city and it is prudent only a short term lease is offered on Silverdale as it may be needed for alternative uses in the future."