Plans for education centre are step closer (From Warrington Guardian)

Plans for education centre are step closer

PLANS to build a flagship centre of education in Winsford are well under way with much of the funding required already secured.

It is hoped the Learning Zone will be located on the old gasholder site at the bottom of High Street and could be completed by 2007.

Town and borough councillor Tony Hooton is delighted that the scheme is moving forward.

He said: "The Learning Zone will be the first option for the old gasholder site but there is still work to be done on that.

"It is still on course to go ahead and we are still trying to get the final part of the funding package together."

The college would provide both vocational and academic courses for young people in the area and will hopefully raise the profile of Winsford.

Clr Hooton, who worked as a teacher at Woodford Lodge High School for more than 20 years, said: "I think it is going to be the biggest boost to education in Winsford for a very long time.

"It's going to be a flagship site that will provide opportunities for many people and I am extremely pleased with the progress that is being made.

"There is nobody that isn't supporting this."

It is hoped that the Learning Zone will be ready in 2007 but Clr Hooton has stressed that is not a definite completion date.

He said: "It is our target to get it done by 2007 but there is a lot of work for us to do yet.

"We would certainly like it to be done by then because it is a very exciting scheme for people living in Winsford."