Witham: At least £17 million to help boost town

9:33am Sunday 14th June 2009

Braintree and Witham Times

Ryan McCarthy

A minimum of £17 million over 18 months will be injected into Witham thanks to the building of state-of-the-art academies.

The town is set to buck the economic trend as the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), which sponsors the two academies, has pledged major investment.

The total cost of the two re-builds will be £50 million split between academies.

Mike Barnett, publicity consultant for Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy, said the AET guaranteed, at a recent meeting that at least a third of the costs of the new builds will be spent on goods and services in the local area.

Norman Wilson, chair of governors at New Rickstones Academy, has lived in Rickstones Road, Witham, for about 30 years.

"It is an integral part of the ethos of the academies in Witham to involve not only the young people of the town and surrounding villages, but also the entire community,” he said.

“We are delighted that a substantial amount of the building investment will provide jobs and opportunities within the community that the new academy buildings will represent.”

Barry Fleet, Witham mayor, said: “As long as the investment is being spent within the town, with local firms and for local benefit it will be fantastic news and very welcome.

“If the two major education establishments are having this very substantial investment to take them forward it is a demonstration that Witham is certainly not stuck in the past.”

Ian Foster, Chairman of the AET, said: “The £50 million approval decision is fantastic news for the local Witham community and promises an exciting future in learning for its young people.”

The new plans for both academies are on show this week at Witham Library in Newland Street.

The sites in Conrad Road and Spinks Lane are due to be completely revamped by September 2011 with planning applications set to be lodged next month.

Mike O’Sullivan, Principal of Maltings Academy, said: “What we are preparing to embark upon is the securing of quality provision for education and care in south Witham for the foreseeable future generations.

“This is such an important task that we are confident that we can deliver on budget and on time.

“The facilities that future generations of students who live in Witham will benefit from will be the best possible to secure world class results.”

Jonathan Gillard, Principal at NRA, said disruption to learning will be kept to a minimum while construction work is ongoing.

He said: “This is exciting news for Witham and its surrounding villages, which will benefit not just students and staff of New Rickstones Academy, but the whole community.”

Ian Cass, of Witham Chamber of Trade, said if contracts are given to local firms it is “excellent” news.

He said: “It’s absolutely brilliant for local business but how are we going to prove they have done what they said they would?

“The devil is always in the detail and the hope is that there are not so many conditions that small businesses won’t get a look in.”