College relocation plans get Town Centre Forum backing (From News Shopper)

College relocation plans get Town Centre Forum backing

5:06pm Monday 30th January 2012 in Education News By Jim Palmer

A COMMUNITY group has backed Bexley College’s plans to relocate to Erith.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Erith Town Centre Forum supported the Further Education college’s proposals to move into state-of-the-art facilities in Walnut Tree Road, which will be paid for by building 192 homes on the current Tower Road site in Belvedere.

The move could be complete by next September.

Forum chairman Doreen Ives said: “We’re enthusiastic about the plans and are looking forwarwd to having the new College building in Erith.

“It is crucial for the future of the borough that the College is kept in Bexley and the relocation to a site far closer to Erith Town centre is great news for the local area. It is clear that the site at Walnut Tree Road has been carefully chosen to make the College far more accessible to students and the community. A new College facility will provide a real kick-start for Erith.”

College principal Danny Ridgeway said: “I have been delighted with the way the local community has got behind these proposals. The new facility will provide an outstanding further education establishment with cutting edge facilities and will be a fantastic resource for Erith and the borough.

“The College has been part of Bexley for over a hundred years. These plans will help secure the future of the College in the borough for the next hundred.”