A NORTH Ayrshire councillor has predicted that Kilwinning students will be £111 worse off as a result of the merger of Ayrshire College campuses.

Kilwinning councillor Joe Cullinane has spoken out after Ayrshire College reviewed its prospectus which revealed that there will be a rationalisation of what courses will be provided at the three campuses in Kilwinning, Kilmarnock and Ayr.

This could ultimately mean that students from Kilwinning may have to travel to Kilmarnock or Ayr to study the course of their choice.

Up until the 2011/12 curriculum year, students were able to claim back every penny in travel costs from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

However, as part of changes to student funding made from 2011/12 onwards, each student received a maximum of £350 per year which is included in their student loan.

Under the previous funding package, expenses weren’t repayable but the £350 included in the loan now is repayable.

The cost of a monthly train ticket from Kilwinning to Ayr is £111 whilst a four weekly bus pass to Kilmarnock is £36.

Speaking on the issue, Councillor Cullinane said: “This was one of the many concerns that I raised before the forced merger.

“As a former student who commuted from Kilwinning to Glasgow every day, I know just how valuable the SAAS travel expenses were to my finances.

“With the cost of travel increasing year on year I opposed this funding scheme from SAAS which disproportionately hits those who don’t stay close to their educational institution and this will undoubtedly be an extra burden on the finances of some local college students who will need to travel to Ayr or Kilmarnock to study the course of their choice under the merger.

“£111 per month for a Kilwinning student to travel to Ayr to study is a significant amount of money and I am concerned that the increased cost of studying may well prevent some from going to college.” In response, a spokesperson from Ayrshire College said: "“Ayrshire College will be delivering a wide variety of courses at our Kilwinning Campus and in many areas we are increasing provision. "From August we will be installing professional kitchens and a training restaurant and offering new Hospitality and Professional Cookery courses.

"In addition to this we are upgrading our computer suite and offering a new course in HNC Computer Science.”