East Lancashire schools affected by BSF announcement (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire schools affected by BSF announcement

6:50pm Monday 5th July 2010 in

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THE MULTI-MILLION pound rebuilding of Blackburn and Darwen’s secondary schools has survived a drastic Government spending cull - but Hyndburn’s has been badly hit.

Tory schools secretary Michael Gove announced cuts to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

But ministers said Blackburn with Darwen’s £203million plans were “unaffected” as they had already reached “financial close”.

However, the project could still be scaled back because millions of pounds of costs were being shared with neighbouring Bolton, where most of the schemes have been axed.

Blackburn with Darwen bosses fear they will now have to shoulder extra costs, which could force them to reconsider some of their plans.

But future phases of Lancashire County Council’s plans have been stopped along with more than 700 schools across the country.

Schools affected by the freeze are:

• Accrington: Mount Carmel RC High
• Barnoldswick West Craven
• Colne Park High
• Colne Primet
• Colne St John Fisher and Thomas More
• Haslingden High
• Haslingden: Tor View special school
• Oswaldtwistle: Rhyddings
• Oswaldtwistle Pupil Referral Unit
• Rishton: Norden High

But the BSF scheme in Burnley was unaffected, because the majority of schools – including Shuttleworth, Marsden Heights and Sir John Thursby – were either almost complete or already open.

Addressing Parliament this evening, Mr Gove said the BSF project had been beset by "massive overspends, tragic delays, botched construction projects and needless bureaucracy".

He listed the number of stages each bid had to pass through before being approved.

He claimed Hong Kong International Airport took less time to build than some BSF schools.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw branded the cuts “wholly unnecessary”, saying: “It’s all the more disgraceful that the Lib Dems are involved as well.”

But he added: “On a local note I am pleased Blackburn has survived.”

Blackburn with Darwen’s BSF plans include rebuilding Witton Park school on its current site, building a new East Blackburn community school in Haslingden Road to replace Blakewater College, and closing Beardwood to make way for an expanded Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School.

Dave Hollings, chairman of the governors at Witton Park school, said: “It is enormously important this school is rebuilt.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and students, staff and governors are all working towards it.”