Four art college governors resign over merger plans

EDINBURGH College of Art has seen four of its lay governors resign in protest at plans to merge with the city's university.

Lady Mathewson has become the latest member to quit over the move, it was announced yesterday.

Lady Mathewson, also revealed Professor Stephen Blackmore resigned two weeks ago, and that Robert Robertson also resigned yesterday.

She said: "I and my fellow governors who have resigned no longer have confidence in the Chairman or Principal who have driven through an incomplete merger proposal that has now been put out to public consultation, excluding key financial information."

Confirming the resignations, a spokeswoman for the art college said: "While individual governors are entitled to disagree with the decision to merge, the suggestion that there has been a failure to explore the options or to ensure transparency in the process is entirely untrue."