MP INTERVENES TO MAKE SURE COLLEGE PROJECT GOES AHEAD

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Jul 2009

Frome MP David Heath has intervened to try to make sure that a building project at Frome Community College goes ahead.

The college was expecting to start construction shortly of new tertiary buildings to replace worn-out temporary classrooms. The plans have been put together over the last year, but are now facing a crisis as they need the go-ahead from the Learning and Skills Council, the funding body for post-sixteen education.

Mr Heath has already written to the Chief Executive of the LSC and the Secretary of State, and raised the matter in the House of Commons today with the Minister for Further Education. The scheme needs to have the agreement of the LSC before the 28th of August, otherwise the plans may have to be abandoned and all the costs of planning and design to date lost. The LSC is due to fund nearly half of the construction costs, at £1.5 million, with the remainder coming from Somerset County Council and the College itself.

David said:

"I am very concerned that by dilly-dallying a very important scheme for Frome may be lost. The LSC have been in complete chaos over recent months, but ministers keep assuring us that not only are matters now being sorted out, but that they are bringing forward investment in college building schemes.

That makes it even more surprising that this project, which the LSC has been involved with through the planning process, and which in terms of total costs is fairly modest compared with some, is being held up simply because the LSC can't seem to be able to confirm their share of the funding will be forthcoming. The College have dome absolutely everything required of them, and to every deadline imposed, which makes it even more upsetting that they're still waiting for an answer.

I've appealed directly to Ministers as well as the LSC because I want them to know that the decision-making process is still not as it should be. If Frome College loses its scheme because of this, then I shall want to know the reason why."