TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are hopeful that an £80 million school building and refurbishment programme promised for the town by the last government will still go ahead.
The borough council, together with partner authority Halton, is pressing on with its plans which, in Warrington, would result in two secondary schools being rebuilt and two more undergoing major modernisation.
Since the General Election, there has been concern in Warrington that the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF) may be scrapped as part of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition’s drive to save money.
But council chiefs understand the new Department for Education has not yet made any decision on the £80 million earmarked for Warrington.
Leader of the council Ian Marks (pictured) said: “We have been told it is business as usual with regard to the national BSF programme.
“The new government has made no statement to the contrary so we are continuing to press on with our plans together with our partner authority, Halton Borough Council.
“I would like to reassure residents, parents, teachers and pupils alike that we will do our very best to make sure our town’s voice is heard with our counterparts in government.
“My deputy, Coun Keith Bland, and I have already made representations to the new MP for Warrington South.
“This building programme is vitally important for Warrington; the scheme for William Beamont High School for example is closely linked to the Orford Park Project. The future of this project will not be affected by any changes in the current situation but a new school is a key part of the overall vision.
“We will therefore be making further representations to government ministers and if need be I will be happy to lead an all-party delegation to London to press our case.”
Under the BSF programme, William Beamont High and Penketh High would be rebuilt and Sir Thomas Boteler CE High, Latchford and Lysander High, Padgate, would undergo extensive modernisation.
BSF is a national initiative that aims to deliver 21st century learning facilities for every secondary school pupil in England.
3 Comments
Woolston High School should not be closing and benefiting from investment.
I agree with Lauran.. 🙂
“I would like to reassure residents, parents, teachers and pupils alike that we will do our very best to make sure our town’s voice is heard with our counterparts in government”…………………..It would be a start if “our town’s voice” was heard in our own town!!!!!! I agree with Lauren and Liz…..and the residents, parents, teachers and pupils who didn’t want Woolston High to close, and the thousands of other people in Warrington who have objected to this council’s ill thought out plans…..but whose voices have never been heard!!!!