Published Date: 29 January 2009

MULTI-MILLION pound plans for Blackpool and Fleetwood colleges have been hit by delays.

Bosses at Blackpool and The Fylde College were hoping to receive the go-ahead last month for their proposal to build a £188m state-of-the-art new further education campus on Rigby Road and a new nautical college in Fleetwood.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) – which holds the purse strings – have delayed making the final decision on funding until March.

But college chiefs are confident the delay will not affect their plans.

A spokesman for Blackpool and The Fylde college said: "We remain confident our plans for the new college will go ahead and our ambitions for world-class educational facilities will be realised.

"We understand there is a delay regarding capital projects to allow the LSC more time to prioritise applications.

"We are very optimistic that exciting regeneration opportunities afforded by the relocation of the college's Further Education campus, will be considered a priority by the LSC."

The LSC has blamed growing demand from colleges for funding for the delay, which comes as a blow to 20 colleges across the country.

Although the LSC insists no freeze has been put on the building programme – it has admitted some colleges are having problems in raising funds.

Blackpool and the Fylde College reassured The Gazette that cash for the scheme is not a problem as the funding bid to the LSC will cover the whole cost of the new buildings.

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Last Updated: 30 January 2009 10:52 AM
Source: Blackpool Gazette
Location: Blackpool

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Mr_Osato,

30/01/2009 08:53:35

This is probably the most important thing going on for Blackpool now - the funding council needs to get its finger out and hand over the money - or is all our money in the hands of overpaid bank executives now?

If this doesn't happen it warrants a Gazette campaign on the same scale as the one it ran for the deeply flawed casino bid - except this time it needs to succeed.

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JbLACKpool,

Blackpool 30/01/2009 09:08:27

Is the title correct

Bladkpool and the Fylde College plans setback

Or Should it Read

Blackpool and the Fylde College plans setback

I wish I was a reporter come on get it right you dont know how to spell your own town

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ZimFlyer,

30/01/2009 09:53:08

After losing the casino d, Blackpool was promised lots of help with it's regeneration, if this isn't a superb regeneration idea I don't know what is. It's time some of our national politicians lived up to their promises and gave us the funding for these colleges, they really will make a big difference in the long term future of Blackpool

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ZimFlyer,

30/01/2009 10:16:20

oops typo, where I put "d", I meant to put "bid"

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beachcomber,

blackpool 30/01/2009 11:21:37

blackpool the charity receiving council .
all blackpool council do is beg for handouts. it is no wonder we attract beggars.
moving the college from its current location beggars belief. there is a huge space there to be used instead of wasting more money. the only logic to it, is i guess that this council ignores anything north of talbot road.

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TangerineMC,

Blackpool 30/01/2009 11:38:52

Beachcomber - The bid for funding has nothing to do with the council - it is a College bid to the Learning and Skills Council to improve educational facilities for an area which is deprived economically and educationally. This is a necessity and the Bispham site would cost significantly more to re-develop than the cost of moving to central Blackpool.
It's also a move which means post-16 education is offered in a central location making it fair for people in all areas of the Fylde to get there.

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Preston4ever,

30/01/2009 11:42:15

If the bid for funding fails it is the Learning and Skills Council that are to blame.

If successful, out come the Blackpool Councillors like Peter Callow and his multicoloured tie to claim the credit.

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Philtheone,

South Shore 30/01/2009 12:16:40

oooh so cynical! lol, gave me a chuckle that.

The new campus is a pretty good idea although I'm not sure why it's more expensive to develop Bispham campus than to obliterate the Mecca area at Rigby Road.

I'm not complaining though, something needs to be done with that dump.

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commonsensical,

Blackpool 30/01/2009 12:28:06

I don’t see how, in the present economic climate, we can afford millions for a new college, especially when we already have one. My car is nearly ten years old, and a nice new shiny one would look good, but until such time as I can afford it I will make do with the one I have. Mind you, I don’t have access to millions of pounds of tax-payers money.

I agree the area around Rigby Road is an eyesore, and would suggest that as the demolition of the old Mecca has started, it is finished, then landscaped (shouldn’t need another car park as we have lots already) until such time as we can afford a new college.

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ZimFlyer,

30/01/2009 12:47:55

commonsensical, this is money that will be spent anyway, so lets make sure it is spent in Blackpool.

By attracting students from outside the area who hopefully will stay in the town after their course has finished we will attract people to Blackpool who will actually contribute something rather than those who come to live on benefits by the sea.

That is why I'm in favour of the college being built here, it will help people already in Blackpool and attract others to come here.

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