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Future uncertain for skills centre scheme
A £20 million scheme to replace Feltham People's Centre with a new state-of-the-art college is still hanging in the balance after the Government deferred its decision.
The Learning Skills Council, who were lined up to pay for the ambitious building project, announced last week that they were again deferring their funding decisions on several schemes including the new Feltham Skills Centre.
West Thames College, in Isleworth, had been hoping to replace the existing building, in Feltham High Street, with a new education facility by 2011. Their current skills centre, in Boundaries Road, Hanworth, already trains youngsters in construction trade skills, catering, mechanics, engineering and hairdressing but is in a desperate state of disrepair.
Principal Marjorie Semple said: "We have not been given a new date as to when the decision will be made, but we have been assured it will be as soon as possible.
"As the Feltham Skills Centre development is regarded as a high priority - meeting a vital skills gap in the area and meeting the needs of local schools and businesses - we have every confidence that this project will go ahead as planned."
Redevelopment is already underway at the college's Isleworth campus but lessons are scheduled to continue at the Hanworth site, despite a catalogue of electricity, heating and maintenance problems.
Ms Semple said: "We would like to reassure all students, and future students who join courses at the Feltham Skills Centre next September, that these development plans are long-term plans and will therefore not affect them. The Skills Centre will remain at the De Brome building for at least another two to three years."
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Would it not have been fairer for the Council to have waited until it had secured funding for the project before it evicted members of the Feltham People's Centre. So what happens now? If no money is forthcoming the building will just fall into further disrepair and its members have been denied the use of this building for nothing.What a waste and an eyesore!