Adult education in Merton is staring down the barrel of a gun this week after the council announced it needs to find £32m in cuts.

Everything from language classes to pottery courses could be axed, but Merton Council has warned that none of its services are safe.

A Twitter campaign has been launched to save Merton Adult Education, based in Whatley Avenue, Raynes Park, which is one of the first services to ‘come under review’ as the council kicks off budget discussions ahead of next year.

The Save MAE account said it is a student-led campaign objecting to the threatened closure of Merton Adult Education.

.@Merton_Council one student has asked us if you are planning to sell off the family silver. Are you? #SaveMAE @MertonAdultEd— Save MAE (@Save_MAE) October 19, 2014 Children’s services and social care for older people will have a lower level of cuts, compared to other services, the council said.

It said the huge savings have to be made because of budget cuts to regional councils by the national Government.

The cuts will happen over the next four years, with the timetable to be discussed at a cabinet meeting tonight.

The council said in a statement that while it is fully committed to adult education and a continued service in the borough, reductions in government funding means the council will now need to look at alternative options to deliver the service.

Wimbledon Times:

The council statement said: "All council services will be affected to some degree, driven by the overall need to find savings."

Cabinet deputy leader, Councillor Mark Allison said: "In light of government cuts to our funding we are reviewing all our services to see whether they can offer improved value for money.

"We are committed to continuing adult education in the borough but Merton Adult Education is being reviewed just like all our other services.

"We are looking at adult education services across London that deliver high quality courses but cost the tax payer less to see if there are ways we can improve our service.

"When money is tight it’s right to ask if traditional ways of doing things still work."

The final budget need to be agreed by all councillors at the annual budget meeting in March 2015.

Do you use Merton Adult Education’s services? Will you be affected by the council cuts?

Get in touch with Becky now on Becky.middleton@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 8722 6336.