THE multi-million-pound redevelopment of Witney College has been put on hold because of a funding crisis, leaving people in the dark about its future.

The £30m campus renaissance was one of 79 Government projects shelved this week.

And that leaves the west Oxfordshire college with a massive headache — and a huge bill for temporary classroom accommodation.

Part of the redevelopment proposals included facilities for an extra 200 students as well as a new sixth form building.

About 450 full-time students, aged between 16 and 18, attend the college in Holloway Road.

In addition, 1,100 adult students use the facilities.

Tonight, the news was described as a “worrying blow” by those involved in the project, which was due to be completed in September next year.

Abingdon and Witney College principal Teresa Kelly expressed disappointment and said it was a setback for education and skills training in west Oxfordshire.

Steve Billcliffe, director of the Witney College development, said: “We are very much in the dark — and that’s worrying.

“It’s a blow for the existing students, the new students looking forward to joining the college next year, and the town.”

Ms Kelly said the delay would cost the college £40,000 a month in temporary classroom accommodation fees alone.

In December, the Learning and Skills Council said it was reviewing college projects following the economic downturn.

A spokesman for the LSC — the body responsible for funding the lion’s share of building work at college sites — said: “The size of the project proposals by colleges across the country is growing rapidly, as is the scale of Government funding colleges are looking for.

“There is also concern that the ability of colleges to raise their own funds for proposed projects is being affected by the economic downturn.”

Ms Kelly said: “Our Witney project is at a more advanced stage, with LSC blessing, than some of those given approval.

“The criteria that seem to have been applied — first come first served — make a nonsense of the review that has taken place over the past two months.”

Last year, bulldozers moved on to the Witney campus and students were transferred to 57 temporary classrooms in the town centre.

Beauty student Melanie Whipp, 18, of Dark Lane, Witney, said: “It’s very noisy in the temporary classroom.

“We could do with more space.

“This will mean new students who were looking forward to starting in the new college will also have to go in to the temporary classrooms.”

Josh Lister, 19, of Kingsfield Crescent, added: “This is not a surprise given the economic climate we are in.

“It is, however, an annoyance.”

The LSC is due to fund 80 per cent of the building work, with the college putting up £6m.

A spokesman for the LSC said it was not known when the Witney redevelopment would resume.

She added: “We can’t give an exact time or date for any of the individual colleges.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk