Ambitious plans for a £65 million learning campus for 14,000 students in Ashford are still alive despite fears the scheme could be scrapped.

Skills training for 14 to 19-year-olds is considered a vital element of Ashford’s future expansion, which will see the town requiring a skilled workforce to support growth.

Plans for the new college on land in Victoria Road, funded partly from the sale of the South Kent College site in Jemmett Road, have been on hold after they faced budget problems.

But a meeting of Ashford borough council's executive on Thursday was told the Learning and Skills Council has indicated its support for the development of further and higher education expansion in the borough.

Now the council is pressing for a decision that will kick-start the project.

The executive heard detailed presentations from the principals of West Kent College and Sussex Downs Further Education College, who are both bidding to take on the project.

Council leader Cllr Paul Clokie(Con), said: “We can make no decisions but give those making them a clear steer of our opinions of what is best for Ashford.”

See next week's Kentish Express for the full story.