6 July 2009, 09/141
Skelmersdale College
West Lancashire Borough Council has pledged
support for Skelmersdale College in its bid to win funding for new
college buildings.
News that the proposed new college in
Skelmersdale had been put on hold was announced last week by the
Learning and Skills Council.
Cllr Ian Grant, Leader of the Council, said:
“West Lancashire Borough Council gives its full support to
Skelmersdale College’s bid to get a review of this decision. The
withdrawal of £40 million funding was a heavy blow to the college
and we will work with them to try to get it reinstated.
“Building a new college is vitally important
not only for the future of education in West Lancashire, but for
the town of Skelmersdale and Lancashire as a whole. The College has
a crucial role to play in terms of physical, economic and social
regeneration.”
Land has been earmarked for the new college
buildings as part of the masterplan for the regeneration of
Skelmersdale town centre and the construction of the new facilities
was scheduled to be a striking positive first step. In fact, it
appeared that funding for the new college had been earmarked but it
now seems that the funding body (the Learning and Skills Council)
have decided not to fund this particular development.
The buildings were to include an arts centre
and a sports centre with a high standard of design. It was hoped
that the new college would inspire the younger generation in the
town and improve their aspirations to continue into further
education. The facilities would not just be for the students
to use, but would also be open to the wider community, so helping
to foster community cohesion.
For several years the Council and its partners
have worked closely together to develop proposals to build a new
heart for Skelmersdale. The proposed new college buildings were
fully integrated into the masterplan, which sets out the blueprint
for the new town centre.
Cllr Grant said: “The masterplan has been
carefully designed to ensure that the new college links well with
all aspects of the new town centre. If the new college does not go
ahead it will be a massive blow to the whole regeneration scheme
for Skelmersdale town centre.”
Background information
In 2008 West Lancashire Borough Council
adopted a masterplan, put together after extensive consultation
with local people, setting out the proposed shape of the new town
centre for Skelmersdale over the next 10 to 15 years. This includes
a new high street, more shops, supermarket, a new leisure
centre, community facilities, improvements to the Tawd Valley, and
housing.
The Council and its development partners, the
regeneration specialist St Modwen, are awaiting the outcome of a
public inquiry into proposals to build a massive retail development
at Kirkby, along with a new Everton football stadium, hotel and
offices. If this scheme is approved in its current form it
will threaten the viability of the Skelmersdale project. A decision
on the Kirkby scheme is expected to be announced by the Secretary
of State later in the year.
Related information