THREATENED outdoor education centres at Braeside and Oxenwood could now stay open until December 31, after four bids were made to take them over.

The centres were due to close on August 31, but may now remain open while Wiltshire Council evaluates the business cases made to take over their operations.

The current early closure date is causing job uncertainty and putting future bookings at risk.

David Borrie, chairman of managers at Braeside, said: “I think this is a positive sign of change. It would have been better to keep them open until the end of the financial year. If they are kept open this information must be given to schools as quickly as possible so they know their bookings are still going to take place.

“It is reassuring to the staff because they have been stressed with all the uncertainty.”

Sylvia Card, Devizes Labour party chairman, said: “This is good news. It is an indication that Wiltshire Council is actively doing something.”

Four business cases have been submitted from charities and private sector providers which want to take over the centres.

One bid comes from a charity which wants to take over Oxenwood, near Marlborough, proposing to use charity grants to pay for improvements to facilities, and focusing on helping young people from low-income families, carers, those with special educational needs, young offenders, and people not in education, employment or training.

Three bids have been made to run Braeside, in Devizes. Plans there proposed improving facilities for people with disabilities at Braeside, as well as launching new on-site activities and opening up the centre to private bookings and events.

The council has also received a bid to launch a charitable body to run Braeside.

Cabinet councillors will vote on whether to extend the period for due diligence to be completed from August 31 to December 31 at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.