HUHNE BACKS CALLS FOR RELEASE OF FUNDING FOR NEW CENTRE (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

Eastleigh Liberal Democrats <enquiries@eastleighlibdems.org.uk>

HUHNE BACKS CALLS FOR RELEASE OF FUNDING FOR NEW CENTRE

May 5, 2009 11:30 AM

Chris Huhne and Tony Lau-Walker Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has slammed on and off government funding for Eastleigh College's new Higher Skills Centre as a "terrible example of bad and wasteful planning". The College successfully completed Phase 1 of its Redevelopment Scheme in 2008, now Phase 2 (including the Higher Skills Centre) is on hold.

Mr Huhne, an advisory governor at the College, is backing the plans for a new Higher Skills Centre at Rookwood in north Eastleigh, and is pictured here with Chief Executive Tony Lau-Walker and the plans.

But Mr Huhne criticises the government - through the Learning and Skills Council - for first encouraging the College to draw up the plans for a Phase 2 Project, and then putting them on hold.

"The College has already spent substantial sums on architects' and other fees as part of the £13 million Rookwood development, all with the active support of the Learning and Skills Council. Now the brakes have gone on, it is a real disappointment for all concerned. The College's plans to complete the redevelopment of its Chestnut Avenue campus, a £26 million scheme, are also on hold.

"This is precisely the sort of investment in the future - new facilities to provide new skills in high-tech industries like renewable energy - that we need. The borrowing for the investment will be paid back in spades over the years, just as any good business borrows to expand and improve its service" said Mr Huhne.

"This Whitehall engineered freeze is deeply disappointing when about one in ten of the local unemployed are in construction and building trades. We have the people and the needs, but the Government will not put them together".

Mr Huhne has pressed his neighbouring MP, John Denham, who is the cabinet minister responsible, to release funds for the improvements. "This is a key to the future of the local economy" he said.