A group of further education colleges is to close one of its campuses, putting about 50 jobs at risk.

Hadlow Group will stop teaching at its Tunbridge Wells site in September, where it runs courses for about 300 students under the West Kent College brand.

Last year it lost £600,000 running the site, which it acquired in 2014 along with sites in Tonbridge and Ashford after its previous operator K College fell into administration with debts of £16 million.

The takeover, which was backed with Government and private money, cost £65 million in a deal its finance director described as the biggest in further education corporate history.

Hadlow does not own the land on North Farm Industrial Estate, unlike its other colleges. It already buses 100 students from Tonbridge to the campus each day.

“The reality is that campus is in the middle of nowhere and not accessible for students on public transport..." - Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow Group

Students due to start or continue their studies in Tunbridge Wells will be taught at its Tonbridge site, also called West Kent College.

Group finance director Mark Lumsdon-Taylor said the facilities at Tunbridge Wells were “no longer fit for purpose for 21st century learning”.

He said: “The reality is the campus is in the middle of nowhere and not accessible for students on public transport.

“We are relocating the provision to Tonbridge to grow it. Those courses no longer meeting the needs of the industry, or which do not have a high demand, will be closed.”

About 50 staff have been sent letters saying their jobs are at risk. The college said it would redeploy staff where possible and is carrying out a consultation process.

Mr Lumsdon-Taylor added: “If I’m not running a plastering course or only have one student, I don’t need a plastering teacher any more.”

Hadlow College, as it was known before its K College acquisitions, decided to run all courses being delivered at the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge campuses as part of a two-year review of their services.

"We are in good financial health and this decision enables us to have greater investment collateral to continue to put money into ICT, facilities and the student experience..." - Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow Group

It is building an £11 million new home for its Ashford College, which will be able to cater for more than 700 students.

The Hadlow Group is also investing in a new visitor centre and museum at the former Betteshanger Colliery, which it eventually hopes to turn into a green energy research and learning campus.

Mr Lumsdon-Taylor said there was no suggestion the group had over stretched itself.

West Kent and Ashford College are a separate legal entity within the Hadlow College Group, with 600 staff continuing to run the sites after they were taken over.

He said: “The Hadlow Group remains in a robust position. We are in good financial health and this decision enables us to have greater investment collateral to continue to put money into ICT, facilities and the student experience.

“If we are throwing money down the drain we are not supporting our learners. This was a straight-forward business decision.”