College plan delayed for two years
NEW College Stamford has suffered a major blow after its £41m re-development scheme was put back at least two years.
The college has been told its grand plans for an environmentally friendly building and sports centre have not made it on to a funding shortlist.
It was hoped work could start in August on a grass-roofed university centre and a sports centre.
However doubt was cast over the scheme in March when the funding body, the Learning and Skills Council, was hit by a crisis.
The council was forced to review funding for projects across the country when it was revealed it did not have enough money.
The Government has agreed to fund some projects, but Stamford is not one of them.
It is now one of 160 projects across England which will have to wait for a Government spending review in 2011-12.
Principal Miles Dibsdall said: "We are of course disappointed that our pioneering project is delayed.
"This was a significant development for the region that would have benefited the entire community.
"This remains a real hands-on community project and we will continue to work to ensure we seek every opportunity to still make it happen and realise our shared vision."
A spokesman for the East Midlands Learning and Skills Council would not comment on individual colleges.
Education minister Kevin Brennan announced the projects which have secured funding in a written ministerial statement on Friday last week.
He said the council would further consult with colleges in the autumn to agree a process for prioritising the capital investment programme ahead of a 2011/2012 spending review.
Mr Brennan said: "Mistakes were made by the Learning and Skills Council in carrying out the further education capital programme."
He added new leadership and measures had been brought in to ensure those mistakes did not happen again.
New College Stamford has submitted plans to South Kesteven District Council for a sustainable eco-house at the Drift Road campus.
Full-time applications are up by nearly 20 per cent and it has signed an agreement with Leeds Metropolitan University to further extend its university level and degree qualifications
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Weather for Stamford
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
