ABINGDON and Witney College’s redevelopment of its Witney campus has very little chance of going ahead, according to a Government troubleshooter.

Sir Andrew Foster was charged with examining the funding fiasco that led to the £30m Witney scheme – and 78 other projects around the country – being shelved.

In his report, Sir Andrew condemned the actions of the Learning and Skills Council, the body responsible for overseeing the financing of the project.

Witney’s Holloway Road scheme was given approval in principle by the LSC – even though funds were running out.

The college had expected final approval in December for its plan to dismantle and rebuild the ageing 1950s campus.

However, Sir Andrew’s damning report concluded that almost all of the £2.3bn set aside for revamping further education colleges through to 2011 had already been spent.

Sir Andrew said: “There were warnings of overheating as early as February 2008, but there was delay and confusion in addressing them.

“Then, towards the end of the year, the extent of the problem was finally recognised and the moratorium put in place.

“At the heart of the problem is the absence of a proper long-term financial strategy and inadequate management, information and monitoring. I have been forced to conclude that the crisis was predictable and probably avoidable.

“Certainly, it could have been mitigated if action had been taken earlier.”

When asked whether the 79 projects “in limbo” had very little chance of going ahead, Sir Andrew replied: “That is definitely one way of putting it.”

The plight of the Witney campus was brought to national attention last month when the town’s MP and Conservative leader David Cameron raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions.

The college is currently spending £40,000 a month for 57 temporary cabins, which its 600 full-time students and staff have been using since September.

College principal Teresa Kelly said she was disappointed there still seemed no way forward for the stalled scheme.

She added: “People in west Oxfordshire are still waiting to hear from the LSC when their new college building programme can go-ahead”

“Regardless of where the blame lies for the funding fiasco, we were hoping to be able to give reassurance to our students that the redevelopment plans were back on track. Sadly the report fails to set a timetable for re-starting the Witney scheme.”

West Oxfordshire District Council wrote to the LSC last month to enquire about the possibility of it helping to finance the scheme.

Despite assurances that a response would be given by last week, it has so far failed to do so.

Steve Billcliffe, the man in charge of overseeing the campus redevelopment, said: “I just don’t see how the LSC will be able to take the district council up on its offer. I don’t think it would even be able to make the repayments on a loan.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk