PROGRESS on both of Pendle's planned new 'superschools' is behind schedule, education chiefs have revealed.

But bosses remain confident that the contractor can make up the time so the 1,050-place Pendle Vale Community College can open next August as planned.

Under the terms of the private finance agreement, contractor Bovis Lend Lease will face "significant financial penalties" if the school is not ready by September 2008.

Bad weather has been blamed for construction work being held up on the new Pendle Vale Community College, and associated Pendle Community High School - a community high catering for 90 students with learning difficulties.

The building timetable for the proposed Marsden Heights Community College - the resulting merger of Edge End and Mansfield high schools - is already in limbo.

Work had been due to start on the project last September - after planning approval was given in May.

But County Hall leaders are still awaiting the outcome of an application to designate Benthead Playing Fields as a town green, which will decided by a council sub-committee on November 27.

On Pendle Vale, Lancashire County Council education spokesman John Ferris says in a report to the Lancashire Local Pendle committee: "Work commenced on site in September 2006, and is due to (be complete(d) in August 2008, ready for occupation at the commencement of the September 2008 term.

"The project is currently slightly behind programme, due to adverse weather conditions, during the early part of the ground works phase of the works and delays in the structural steelwork.

"(Contractors) Bovis Lend Lease has already recovered some of this delay and is confident that the contract completion date will be achieved.

"As part of the private finance initiative agreement, significant financial penalties will be imposed by the authority if the school isn't ready for occupation in September 2008."

The town green application for Benhead Playing Fields has been made by members of the Brierfield Environmental Campaign, who say they want to safeguard the land, currently owned by Pendle Borough Council, for future generations.

Education officials behind the Building Schools for the Future programme want to exchange the old Edge End High site at Hibson Road and the former Mansfield High tennis courts, for the playing fields, where the new school can be built.

If the playing fields are given town green status then the Marsden Heights venture, managed by the council by chosen partners Catalyst, would have to go back to the drawing board.