DOES THE OAKLANDS COLLEGE PROJECT FACE THE CHOP?
March 18, 2009 3:02 PM
Originally published by St Albans Liberal Democrats
Originally published by St Albans Liberal Democrats
The news that there is a real threat to the government share of funding for the new Oaklands College will be a bitter blow to the St Albans and mid-Herts community, said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for St Albans. The revelation that the Government's Learning and Skills Council has vastly over-extended itself in making promises for far too many FE redevelopment projects round the country is very worrying news. Some FE colleges have already had their hopes dashed, even after they have committed many millions in development pre-planning. In the case of Oaklands College, the Smallford project seems to be in a black hole limbo.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will make her decision on the just completed planning inquiry by July. The £120 million Oaklands project is "shovel-ready", and with a real emphasis on using local contractors and suppliers for the construction work. Teachers and students are really excited by the prospect of a state-of-the-art new college building on the Smallford site, which would be completed just two years after work begins.
"If ever there is a time to promote and encourage the FE sector with its emphasis on practical training and reskilling, it must be now," Sandy Walkington said.
"But it all becomes academic if the Learning and Skills Council reneges on its promise of £45 million towards the total capital cost. Sir Andrew Foster has been appointed to conduct a review on the whole national funding situation. We are told he is expected to report at the end of this month - but it is hard cash which is needed, not warm words. So much effort has been made by so many people to get to this position - it will be heart-breaking if all that effort comes to nothing because of budgeting incompetence by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats