COLLEGE bosses are mapping out plans to become ‘bigger, stronger and better’ for Winsford over the next two years.

Warrington and Vale Royal College, which formed following the merger of Mid Cheshire College and Warrington Collegiate last year, has outlined plans to improve its campus in Winsford.

In a document sent out to stakeholders including members of Cheshire West and Chester Council, the college outlines 16 priorities to improve from 2018 to 2020.

One priority is to ‘consider the college estate’ – and this includes a feasibility study for a new engineering and advanced manufacturing centre in Winsford, while also taking into account Winsford’s wider regeneration plans – including the industrial estate.

Cllr Brian Clarke, CWAC cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure, said he is ‘over the moon’ about the college’s plans for the town.

The Labour member for Winsford Wharton said: “We need the skillset bringing up in the town, so this is absolutely brilliant news.

“The college has worked with the BID group and spoken to different businesses on Winsford Industrial Estate to ask them what they would need. They have come forward with this and responded.

“We were starting to get a little short as far as training was concerned, but now there are more businesses coming into the area it is important that the younger generation gets the necessary skills to match up with what is needed by employers.”

Other priorities for the college include work to secure an Ofsted inspection result of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.

In its last inspection before the merger last year, Mid Cheshire College was rated as ‘inadequate’ for the second time in 18 months.

The college is also set to prioritise ‘outstanding achievement rates’ in its classes and apprenticeships, and work to improve its financial position – after Mid Cheshire College ran a budget deficit of £2 million in 2017.

At a CWAC meeting in May, principal Nichola Newton said: “If we go forward on the plan we’ve got at the moment, by 2021-22, we should be in outstanding financial health.”