Science vision is a reality

CAREFUL touch . . . Workers get the window displays in place

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AMBITIOUS plans to create a world-class science centre in Oldham have become reality after gaining Government backing.

The final hurdle was passed after Bob Neill MP, Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government, gave official approval for the £10million scheme to deliver the Regional Science Centre Oldham (RSCO).

It meant education chiefs were able to collect the keys and meet at the stunning five-storey King Street facility yesterday as they hailed a new dawn for Oldham.

The Oldham Partnership had already exchanged contracts for the acquisition of the Kings Point building and took the opportunity to view the new RSCO brand, chosen in consultation with Oldham Sixth Form College students.

Eye-catching vinyl window-wraps — featuring attractive, swirling colours and logos — are being put in place to envelop the whole building and promote the development at a key gateway to the town centre.

They will be finished next week and in place for nine months until active classrooms are ready to be unveiled.

Construction work starts in October, to be completed by next April, to fit out the state-of-the-art facility, which will boast 21 specialised laboratories for physics, biology, chemistry and electronics teaching and research. There will also be a high-tech interactive exhibition space and IT-based study areas, while the centre is a “green A rated” building that utilises solar panels.

Contracts for the work are out to tender with the aim of recruiting local firms. Pupils should be able to use the facilities from next May.

The Chronicle was given a brief tour of the impressive, open-plan building, which has clever touches such as motion sensor lights and stunning views.

Oldham Council leader Councillor Howard Sykes said: “It is a genuine thrill to be here to receive the keys for RSCO. This development is a major milestone in making Oldham a flourishing university town, and in raising the aspirations of future generations.

“Industry and national policy makers need access to world-class scientific research and advice to give them the edge in the new economy. The RSCO can put Oldham at the heart of that supply chain with first-class science teaching in order to meet the identified regional and national demand in this area. This facility represents the ambitions that Oldham Council and its partners have to give our young people a better chance to acquire the skills they need to meet the employment challenges of the 21st century.”

He added that it would boost regeneration plans and was fittingly the first construction project to directly benefit from Metrolink in the town centre.

The centre, which brings the building into use for the first time since it was completed in June, 2009, is a partnership project between the council, Oldham Sixth Form College and University Campus Oldham.

It will be the centre point of an educational quarter in Oldham, flanked by the university campus and two colleges.

It will be run by the Sixth Form College whose principle, Jayne Clarke, said that by the time it opens there will be up to 9,000 students at the two colleges, university campus and science centre.

She added: “The centre will be used by primary school pupils right through to undergraduates and move our provision to a whole new level, providing scientific activities, specialised education and research for up to 2,000 pupils and students.”