Work to start on new college (From Bury Times)

Work to start on new college

9:10am Wednesday 18th October 2006 in News By Saiqa Chaudhari

WORK is set to be begin on a new £13.5 million education centre for Bolton Sixth Form College and the Community College.

The South Campus of the Sixth Form College will move from its site in Great Lever to a new building in Queen Street, Farnworth.

Sixth formers will be joined there by students from the Community College who are studying construction and hair and beauty.

The Farnworth site used to be occupied by Queen Street Primary School, which has moved to a new building in nearby St Germain Street, under the name Queensbridge School.

Local businesses and residents had raised concerns about possible traffic congestion around the new college site but the Sixth Form College says a plan to cope with student travel is being drawn up to address the worries.

The new centre, which is being planned, funded and managed by Bolton Sixth Form College, should be opened by 2008 and will cater for students aged 14 to 19.

Plans are also being drawn-up for the current North Campus of Bolton Sixth Form at Smithills and the remainder of Bolton Community College to relocate to a new £14 million building in the town centre.

The colleges would keep their separate identities.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The executive members for development and regeneration have approved the report and development brief for the use of the former Queen Street Primary School site in Farnworth, enabling this part of the scheme being developed by Bolton Sixth Form College and Bolton Community College to co-locate on the site.

"Following consultation with local residents and businesses, the brief has been amended to require the developer to produce a travel plan and have a travel assessment completed."

"Work should start next year and will form part of wider regeneration aspirations for the area."

Principal of Bolton Sixth Form College, Roy Whittle, said: "The new centre will significantly increase the range of courses available to young people in the south of Bolton.

"It will enable young people to have access to local and high quality provision, which are currently lacking.

"The new centre will have a transforming impact on the life chances of young people in the south of the town."