Sixth Form College back on track

Plans for the proposed town centre Sixth Form College are back on track after the government's Learning and Skills Council confirmed funding for the £25 million project.

There were fears over the college's future because of the credit crunch but, following a summit meeting between Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin and the Minister for Further Education Sion Simon MP, news emerged that the project was 'highly likely' to go ahead.

Now building work can go ahead as planned and the new college is expected to open in September 2010.

Last month the college plans were thrown up in the air as news emerged that funding for 42 college buildings across the country had been frozen due to the current financial climate.

Commenting, Paul Rowen said: "I am very pleased that the meeting that I organised has led to this decision. When I learned that the sixth form college was under threat, I swung into action. This is great news and I look forward to our town being able to provide the higher education that our young people deserve."