FUNDING for a new building to serve the Winsford Academy remains uncertain, after the school was told they will have to wait until January for a decision.
In September the former Woodford Lodge and Verdin High Schools reopened as the Winsford Academy with the promise of a £20 million new school building, earmarked for the former Verdin site, by 2013.
However, after last week’s spending review – which reduced the capital spends budget for new school buildings by 60 per cent to £16 million – the school is still none the wiser on whether they will have a new build or not.
Vicky Atkinson, deputy director for business and finance at the Academy, says the school remains optimistic.
She said: “We’re no further on. It’s not good news, it’s not bad news.
“Obviously, we’re still hoping for a rebuild but whatever happens there will be a substantial financial investment.
“It may be a new building, a 100 per cent refurbishment or a 95 per cent refurbishment, we won’t know until January.”
But, Clr Charlie Parkinson, of Winsford Town Council, said he personally wouldn’t be satisfied with anything other than a new school building.
“The children of Winsford deserve nothing less,” he said. “We’ve got two school buildings that are 40-years-old and not fit for purpose.”
He said the council weren’t aware in a delay in making a decision but agreed the town had been left in limbo.
He said: “It is unsettling for everyone involved with the school – people just want to know what’s going on.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed. I imagine we’ve got a reasonable chance.
“We’ve done all we can, it’s just a case of someone putting pen to paper.”
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