SOUTH Cheshire College is set to say a fond farewell to its old Dane Bank Avenue campus which has served generations of students for more than 40 years.

As staff complete the transition into a new state-of-the-art campus on the same site, the curtain is about to close on the seven-storey tower block and outbuildings which were officially opened by the Queen Mother in 1968.

The water and electrical supplies are being shut down in the old campus this week and the first demolition stage of the tower block will begin later this month.

Thousands of students have benefited from the facility which has been a visible landmark on the Crewe skyline for decades.

The tower block and outbuildings which include an art block and construction workshops are being replaced by a spacious, three storey crescent shaped campus which has been designed around a copse of trees.

Top of the range facilities in the new campus include a theatre, sports hall, restaurant and brasserie, hair and beauty salons, shop, travel centre, fitness academy and high-tech teaching and learning areas.

The new campus also houses numerous indoor and outdoor social spaces and is wireless networked so learners can log on to the computer network virtually in any place at any time.

Peter Swift, South Cheshire College principal, said: “It will be sad to say goodbye to our old campus which has served South Cheshire extremely well since the 1960s.

“However, this is the right time to move on and we have now moved into an iconic new campus with outstanding facilities.

“There is no doubt that the new building will enhance the quality of education we provide for our students for many years to come.”

Staff have all completed their move into the new £74 million campus which has been open to the public for enrolment sessions for the first time this week.

Students are set to start their courses in the new facility, which has been built by BAM Construction, on Monday September 6.

Mr Swift added: “Everyone at South Cheshire College is very excited about the new campus and we look forward to welcoming students into what is one of the finest further education buildings in the country.”