College rebuilding schemes in Southport, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk, and Mid-Cheshire are scrapped

Jun 29 2009 by Rob Merrick, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE college rebuilding schemes in the region have been effectively scrapped, after a widely-condemned funding fiasco at a government quango.

The plans to revamp further education colleges at Southport (£39.6m), Skelmersdale and Ormskirk (£41m) and Mid-Cheshire (£44.3m) were shelved until at least 2011.

By that date, Britain will be in the grip of an unprecedented squeeze on capital spending – raising serious questions about whether they will ever go ahead.

There was better news for two other projects in the region – at St Helens (£32m) and West Cheshire (£65m) – which were among 13 schemes "proceeding to the next stage of development".

However, even those 13 will not be funded unless college managers can slash costs and find other sources of funding, probably from the private sector.

And, together, the 13 projects currently cost around £515m. There is only £300m available through to 2011, although some spending could be delayed after that date when further funds are possible.

King George V College, in Southport, has already spent £2m on preparatory work, after it was encouraged to bid for an ambitious scheme.

Work had been due to start on the new Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College, on Northway, in March, including hairdressing salons, a bistro, sports facilities and an arts centre.