College is upbeat at funding delay

WORK on Oldham College’s new £80 million campus has been hit by a three-month funding delay.

But bosses are confident that plans to transform the Rochdale Road site with world-class facilities will go ahead.

They had hoped to start advance building work this month before the main construction in June.

But the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which funds further education, has stopped its decisions on funding buildings until March.

This is pending a review amid fears that not enough money is available in the current economic crisis. Between 40 and 60 colleges are expected to be affected, and an emergency motion has been tabled demanding ministers intervene.

The LSC has already approved in principle the college’s overhaul and a planning application has been submitted to demolish seven buildings, and replace them with six new blocks.

Facilities will include a sports hall, construction training, high-tech hair and beauty salons, purpose built classrooms and a corporate training suite.

Bosses now expect a decision on funding for the advance building work, such as installing power supplies, in May.

They hope that the LSC’s decision to fund the rest of the work will be made in June as planned, with the campus due to be completed in 2012.

Principal Kath Thomas said: “The review by the LSC will inevitably cause some delay in starting work on the project.

“We are, however, very confident that our educational case for the redevelopment is clear and proven and that our new campus plans will be approved by the LSC in due course.

“We have firmly cemented our position as one of the top colleges in the country.”

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a Parliamentary motion urging ministers to intervene.

Stephen Williams, shadow innovations, university and skills secretary, said: “Putting such a large-scale construction project on hold flies in the face of the Government’s claims of investing to kick start the economy.

“The very people meant to be implementing this programme are rowing in the opposite direction.

“Colleges have had to fork out large sums of their own money to make their applications to the LSC. This delay is putting even greater strain on their already tight budgets.”