FENLAND: Motion passed by councillors as they step up campaign for new college campus

FENLAND councillors repeated their demands for the new campus of the College of West Anglia to be given the go ahead.

At the annual meeting of Fenland District Council, members voted unanimously to approve an emergency motion supporting the college.

Deputy leader Fred Yeulett described the college as a "real pillar in shaping Fenland's future strategy".

Planning committee chairman Martin Curtis said that "anything other than full funding would be a betrayal of Fenland."

Councillor Alan Melton, portfolio holder for open for business, said: "This is a college for the whole of Fenland. It is a major investment that is urgently needed."

The motion passed by members said: "This council is fully in support of the planned CoWA Campus in the town of March and its associated facility in Wisbech to address the existing education and skills deficit within the Fenland District that are currently well below the average county and national levels.

"The new campus will provide a significant boost to the socio-economic regeneration of the area and forms part of an integrated approach to revitalize this area of north Cambridgeshire.

"The proposals are fundamentally linked to sustainable housing growth,

infrastructure improvements, provision of much needed open space (by the

delivery of a country park) and importantly the raising of aspirations of the

local community.

"This essential development is welcomed by all local partner organisations and

therefore the district council would strongly request that the Learning Skills

Council approve the full funding allocation without delay to enable the

implementation stage of the project to be initiated.

"The LSC has the opportunity, in awarding the required funding, to make a

significant difference to the lives of the community of Fenland.