AN £84 MILLION plan to build two new campuses for Bolton Sixth Form College is in danger of being scrapped.
College principal Roy Whittle wants a £14 million campus to be built on the site of the former Queen Street Primary School in Queen Street, Farnworth.
But planning bosses have ordered him to scale down his plans or find a new site - and now the entire scheme, which also includes a £70 million campus in Bolton town centre, is in doubt.
Mr Whittle said the plans hinge on the creation of the south campus in Farnworth. which had been earmarked for completion by August 2008.
He fears the Learning Skills Council, (LSC), which is funding around half the cost of the south campus and £55 million of the town centre campus, may withdraw the cash if the scheme is delayed any further.
Mr Whittle said: "Quite a queue is forming for LSC funding from other authorities including Bury, Rochdale and Stockport.
"The money has been earmarked for Farnworth, but the LSC has a finite pot for education needs.
"I was obviously very disappointed with the planning decision. This development is very important to the young people of Bolton and is part of a much wider project."
Councillors on Bolton planning and highways committee will meet next Thursday to look at the plans again.
Mr Whittle is appealing to councillors and the local community to back the plans, saying the new site in Farnworth forms the cornerstone of a multi-million scheme to modernise education in Bolton.
If plans are approved work can start on a new £70 million campus in the town centre to accommodate Bolton Sixth Form's north campus and also Bolton Community College.
The relocation of the south campus will also pave the way for the multi-million pound rebuild of Hayward School on Lever Edge Lane. Pupils could use the empty neighbouring south campus as a temporary school while the development gets under way.
Mr Whittle said the college had gone to great lengths to answer residents' concerns about traffic and the impact the college - which has been in the planning stage for two years - would have on the area.
He said: "This site has two advantages. It is five minutes from the bus station and well served by public transport and it is close to schools in the south of Bolton. We will also be carrying out work on the roads around the site."
Mr Whittle added: "Young people living in deprived areas of the town are less likely to go on to further education. Statistics show that seven per cent more young people stay in post-16 education in the north of the borough than those in the south.
"We need to give young people this opportunity and raise their aspirations."
Mr Whittle urged residents not to confuse the college with a school.
"Young people are not driven to college, and are either not old enough to drive or cannot afford a car. These people choose to be here and are mature."
He said that the college would cater for 600 sixth formers and 150 Bolton Community College students. The numbers of pupils on site on any given day would be a lot less because of the staggered timetables.
"What people see now is a large Victorian vandalised area," he said. "The college will not be anything like that, it will improve the area, and there will be economic benefits to Farnworth town centre by having students here."
If approval is given and a new campus is built, Mr Whittle says he will set up a residents liaison group.
He said: "I would welcome support for the plans, but also urge local people who have concerns to contact me so we can talk about them."
Farnworth councillor Raymond Stones said: "If this application is not passed it will be a blow to the area.
"Given the number of schools in the area it is a very important facility.
"I would think it has the support of parents and businesses.
"It forms a part of the regeneration of the area."
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