Thousands of people have supported an online campaign calling on West Dunbartonshire Council plan to reverse its decision to shut the centre in June.

The council operates the lease for the centre and a ‘review’ of the service to save £110,000 was part of sweeping cuts put forward by the Labour administration in a bid to plug a £17million budget gap.

The centre provides outdoor activities such as mountain biking, abseiling and canoeing for schoolchildren in the region and is also available for hire.

West of Scotland SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell wrote to the council’s chief executive Joyce White urging her to reconsider the closure, in response to constituents’ concerns.

He wrote: “I share the concerns raised by my constituents that the closure of the Ardlui Centre will have a detrimental impact on the education of children and young people in West Dunbartonshire, especially those who may not be able to access affordable outdoor education activities as easily due to the closure.

“Campaigners have also voiced concerns about a lack of consultation on the proposed closure of the Ardlui Outdoor Education Centre and the apparent lack of any efforts by West Dunbartonshire Council to seek external funding to enable the continuation of the Outdoor Education Service.

“I would urge you to reconsider the decision to close the West Dunbartonshire Outdoor Education Service and I hope that the council will do all it can to ensure children and young people in West Dunbartonshire continue to have access to the excellent facilities at the Ardlui Centre.” Campaigners said they were grateful for his support.

A council spokeswoman said: “The loss-making Ardlui Outdoor Education Centre has been a drain on taxpayers money in West Dunbartonshire with losses since 2010 of more than £1.5m. Those are the facts and that is why the council must stop running the centre. It is quite possible that another organisation will take over the lease on the centre, and that would still allow P6 and P7 pupils to use the facilities in future.

“Whatever happens pupils in West Dunbartonshire will still be able to access high-quality outdoor education from a number of other centres in the west of Scotland.”