WEST College Scotland in Greenock is asking staff to take voluntary redundancy to save money.

Principal Audrey Cumberford has told them that the college board has approved a voluntary severance scheme which has been submitted to the Scottish Funding Council.

Ms Cumberford’s memo invites ‘expressions of interest in voluntary severance where we believe we could consider a small reduction in staffing without adversely affecting day to day college activities and make the required savings’.

An angry staff member said cutting lecturers or support staff could have a serious impact on the college, and that, if anyone is going it should be someone from management.

The college employee, who did not want to be named, said: “The principal’s statement clearly indicates the low regard she and the board have for staff.

“If staff leave then obviously what will follow will be a reduction in service to students and increased workload for those remaining.”

The college was hit by a series of strikes last year, over a national pay dispute involving support staff who work in work in administration, admissions, funding, catering, cleaning, security and other areas.

Ms Cumberford said last year that the college had made admirable progress since the merger of James Watt with Paisley and Clydebank.

She said £6m had been invested in the Finnart Street campus in recent years, and they were continuing to look at ways of modernising the building as a ‘key priority’.

The principal said: “We are now the second-largest regional college in Scotland, employing 1,200 staff, with a turnover of more than £55 million.

“We are using this scale and our enhanced level of influence for the benefit of all our communities across the entire west region, including in Inverclyde.”

Ms Cumberford said yesterday: “This is a very limited scheme which, if it is approved and if we get the numbers, will result in modest but nevertheless important savings to the college. We are confident we can make savings without affecting day-to-day activities, as the numbers involved are small. There will be no compulsory redundancies.”