Cash blow at college

Work on a £15 million extension to Kidderminster College and a new learning centre for 14 to 19-year-olds has been halted because funding has been frozen.

The Learning and Skills Council has announced it is freezing spending on 144 projects across the country and now college officials are left waiting for news.

The setback follows the start of demolition on the site of the former Sladen School, in Hurcott Road, which closed following a review of education in the Wyre Forest district.

It was hoped the LSC would stump up £13 million to build the college extension and learning centre on the Sladen School site. The remainder of the cost would be met from borrowing by the college.

The centre was planned to open in September 2011 but because of the freeze this could be set back to September 2012 if funding cannot be agreed soon.

College principal and chief executive Andrew Miller said today: "Luckily we have not incurred significant costs so far.

"We had planned that the centre would be opened in September 2011 and I think the problem of things being put on is of concern for the young people of the Wyre Forest district.

"We are now looking at a possible opening in September 2012 and the delivery of diploma qualifications for young people in the district has been put in jeopardy. I think things have been badly managed by the LSC.

"I am still confident that money could be forthcoming because this is such a good project and would also act as a regeneration scheme for the Horsefair and Broadwaters area."

Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest Conservative spokesman and College Governor, described the news as "a great blow". He said: "While I would stress that this is not the end of the Sladen Project, any uncertainty is unwelcome. Kidderminster and Wyre Forest need more investment, not less."