By Elaine King PLANS are in the pipeline to move the Fenland Learner Centre from March to Wisbech, to provide better facilities for youngsters with special educational needs. At the moment 11 children attend the temporary and inadequate centre in City Roa

By Elaine King

PLANS are in the pipeline to move the Fenland Learner Centre from March to Wisbech, to provide better facilities for youngsters with special educational needs.

At the moment 11 children attend the temporary and inadequate centre in City Road at March - but they are running out of space.

And with most of the demand for places coming from the Wisbech and Friday Bridge area, Cambridgeshire County Council wants to move the centre to an empty industrial unit at Algores Way, in Wisbech.

The proposed new centre would provide places for another nine pupils aged 11 to 16, with the possibility of taking up to 30 children in total.

In a report to Fenland District Council, the county says: "The proposed unit at Wisbech would foster and develop partnership links with existing schools within Wisbech, particularly the Thomas Clarkson Community College and the Meadowgate School, both of which are within reasonable walking distance.

"The site at Wisbech would give students access to a full range of social service provision within the town, together with access to careers advice at organisations such as Connexions.

"The centre would also wish to develop relationships with existing employers around the site, particularly those involved in the motor trade.

"Finally, the Fenland Youth Arts Trust is also bases in Wisbech, and the Fenland Learner Centre would wish to foster relationships with this organisation."

There are no plans to change the outside appearance of the unit at 2 Algores Way, except for the provision of 15 parking spaces. Internal alterations would provide workshop, classroom, IT, staff and amenity areas.

The report says the Algores Way building is close to public transport facilities, and is "particularly unattractive" for the current commercial market. There is also a "distinct over-supply of office accommodation" within Wisbech, because of the recent mergers of law firms, so the building would not be needed for commercial or office use.