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Fury over £102m college plan's two-year delay
PLANS for a £102m rebuild of South Tyneside College have been shelved for two years, it's been revealed.
The news has left college bosses furious after they were told about the setback by Learning and Skills Council (LSC) yesterday, which is handling the Government-funded
Just 13 colleges across the UK have now been given the go-ahead to continue work, but South Tyneside is not on the list.
Principal Jim Bennet said he was "angry" and "disappointed" and will not learn if plans can go ahead until 2011.
He also slammed the LSC's handling of the new build capital funding scheme.
"This news is deeply disappointing and is clearly not the decision we were hoping for," said Mr Bennett, who is also college chief executive.
"The members of the board and the staff are extremely angry that this entire process by the LSC nationally and essentially puts us back where we were three years ago."
Earlier this year the Gazette revealed the new builds at the Hebburn and Westoe college sites had been frozen because of the funding problems but Mr Bennett was hopeful they would get the green light.
Dorothy Smith, interim regional director at LSC North East, said: "The LSC will ensure we continue to work closely with the principal and governors of the college in relation to their plans.
"The next steps will start this autumn when we will further consult with the sector to agree a robust, fair and transparent process for prioritising the capital investment programme.
"The size and scope of this will depend on the outcome of the next Spending Review. The Government remains committed to the FE capital investment programme and this will continue into the next Spending Review period.
"The LSC will in the meantime help those colleges whose projects are not proceeding in the short term and draw up a revised estates strategy and examine other sources of finance."
The new buildings, which were to be partly funded by the LSC, would replace the existing college buildings in St George's Avenue in South Shields and Mill Lane, Hebburn, to provide a modern learning environment for up to 22,000 students.
Mr Bennett is looking to the college's future and has vowed South Tyneside College facilities will improve.
He added: "We can not dwell on this anger and disappointment and must now draw a line under the debacle and concentrate on the task in hand of providing first-class teaching from all of our sites across the borough.
"South Tyneside College has been providing world-class training in this area for almost 150 years and that's not about to change with this announcement.
"For us – it's business as usual and we are already working on a new strategy with our partners across the borough to ensure that our college buildings are refurbished and rebuilt wherever possible to meet the exceptional standards our students are used to.
"By hook or by crook there will be new facilities at South Tyneside College.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone across the borough who has supported us throughout this process, including our local MPs and councillors, we have very much appreciated their help."
Coun Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "This is very disappointing news.
"The college and its students are a major contributor to our economy and investment is needed if it is to maintain its place at the forefront of international training.
"What is encouraging is that the college is already working on a new strategy, and we are right behind its plans to create top-class facilities worthy of the high standards of training it offers."
LSC chief executive Geoff Russell said the 13 colleges had been chosen for being the projects which would bring the "greatest benefit to learners and communities across the country".
Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: "Understandably there will also be a great deal of disappointment among those colleges that will not be receiving funding.
"It is still beholden on the LSC to give colleges as much assistance as they can in managing their estates so that they meet the needs of students, communities and business in the 21st century."
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
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