GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN FENLAND SCHOOLS WELCOMED

The next stage of a massive £93 million investment for the rebuilding and refurbishment of schools in Fenland has been approved.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed the next stages of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project, which will see significant improvements to six Fenland schools.

The latest stage to be agreed was the Council’s Strategy for Change, which sets out how building improvements will contribute to higher standards in our schools. This will be followed later this year by the Outline Business Case, which ensures that the financial case for the project is secure, and, in late 2008, the approval of bidders for the contracts.

The national BSF project will see all 3500 secondary schools in England rebuilt or substantially remodelled over a 15-year period at a total cost of around £45 billion.

Schools in Fenland will be among the first in Cambridgeshire to benefit, although schools across the rest of the county will be included in future ‘waves’ over the next 10 years. About £93 million is available for Fenland - £84.8m for construction and £8.2m for ICT.

Coun Shona Johnstone, County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services said: “The BSF investment in Fenland is very good news. It will enhance educational opportunities for children and young people in the area, revitalise the local economy, support the wider regeneration of the area and help our continuing drive to improve educational standards.

“The County Council, with the backing of the schools concerned, Fenland District Council and The College of West Anglia, put a strong case to government to enable the Fenland scheme to start the planning phase as early as possible, and I am delighted that our hard work has paid off. I hope that Cabinet’s approval of this latest phase will enable the Fenland scheme to move forward as quickly as possible.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Political contacts: Conservative Coun Shona Johnstone 01954 230565 (h) or 07752 880344 (mobile); Liberal Democrat Coun Anne Kent 01223 353811 (h) or 07771 782265 (mob); Labour Coun Martin Ballard 01223 562737.

1. For further information contact BSF Programme Director Kevin Manley on 01223 717902 or Simon Cobby in the Press Office on 01223 717627.

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