In the Senedd yesterday, Huw Irranca-Davies MS (Lab, Ogmore) asked for an update on discussions between the Welsh Government and Bridgend College over plans for a new college campus at Cheapside in Bridgend town centre.
Labour committed to delivering a new campus in the recent local election campaign, with the current estimated cost being £45million. A new college campus forms a key part of BCBC’s masterplan for the town centre.
Education Minister, Jeremy Miles (Lab, Neath) said that the college was “proposing to accelerate the delivery” of the new campus and the Welsh Government was “very supportive” of the proposal.
“(The proposed campus) strengthens the college’s education offer….but also delivers on that mission that is so important to all FE colleges, which is supporting the local economy, encouraging footfall into the centre of the town, providing that local economic halo around its activities.”
– Education Minister, Jeremy Miles
He revealed that Welsh Government officials were working with the college on the possible funding requirements.
Altaf Hussain MS (Con, South Wales West) was also excited by the project due to its potential to aid regeneration efforts. However, the council and college needed to ensure that students living outside of the town centre – particularly in the Valleys – can get to the new campus by public transport.
What discussions have taken place over public transport and active travel arrangements to the new campus?
The Minister said that the college already has “a real focus…on making sure it’s accessible to students”. He would expect accessibility to be the “centre of their considerations”.
