MP Russell accuses PM over college cuts
June 30, 2009 12:00 AM
Colchester MP Bob Russell has challenged Prime Minister Gordon Brown over the decision to shelve a £80 million re-development of the Colchester Institute. It is one of around 180 other colleges throughout the country which have had their developments stopped.
His demand came after the Prime Minister gave a statement to MPs on what was titled "Building Britain's Future".
Mr Russell told the Commons: "In the real world, on Friday, this Government shelved 180 major capital building programmes in the college sector.
"If the Prime Minister wants to be taken seriously about building for the future for Britain, will he reinstate those shelved building programmes so that our young people may have decent places to study and unemployed building workers can be put back to work?"
Responding, Mr Brown said that in 1997 there was no investment taking place in future education. "In the Budget, we announced £300 million extra investment for further education, and those allocations are being made now."
Afterwards Mr Russell said that only 13 colleges had been awarded funding. Colchester Institute needs around £80 million to undertake the second phase of the rebuilding of its campus in Sheepen Road. The first phase is now completed, but the rest of the campus resembles a building site with around 30 per cent of students being taught in temporary accommodation - a situation which is now set to continue for several years.
Liberal Democrat Mr Russell observed: "This is an appalling situation, and shows how much new Labour is failing the country. The Institute was encouraged to proceed with its huge new development, and work commenced. Then the Government brought it to a grinding halt.
"And, showing a total lack of joined-up thinking, another arm of Government is preparing to throw £130 million at secondary schools in Colchester with a set of proposals which the people of the town have overwhelmingly said they are opposed to. New Labour has lost the plot."
Mr Russell said that planning permission had been given for the Colchester Institute development, whereas not a single plan had yet been drawn up for the secondary school developments. "The ideal solution would be for the Government to allow the Colchester Institute to have £80 million to do its development and for £50 million to build a new Sir Charles Lucas school at Greenstead. That would represent value for money and provide the people of Colchester with an education arrangement which would find more support than what the Government is currently offering."
This is the second time in less than a week that Mr Russell has challenged Mr Brown about education matters in Colchester. At last Wednesday's Questions to the Prime Minister he drew attention to the decision of Conservative-controlled Essex County Council to proceed with the closure of Thomas Lord Audley and Alderman Blaxill secondary schools although this is overwhelmingly opposed by residents and Colchester Borough Council. As a result Mr Russell is to have a meeting with Schools Minister Mr Vernon Coaker to see how this decision can be over-turned.
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