A NEW sixth-form college is set to be built in the north of the borough, despite opposition from a collection of local interest groups.

More than 45 per cent of people consulted by Lewisham Council had reservations about building a new college, despite the fact the Office for Standards in Education planned education provision for 16 to 19-year-olds in a 1999 report.

Only 49 per cent of those consulted over the proposal were in favour of it, with the most outspoken critic of the plan being the New School for New Cross Campaign.

Spokesman Louise Irvine said: "We are not going to stop campaigning.

"The Labour council has not listened to what we have campaigned for."

The overwhelming majority of students who were questioned welcomed the idea of a new centre in the borough, the plans for which were first reported by the News Shopper in June.

The college would be built on the site of failed Fresh Start School, Telegraph Hill, in Walbutton Road, and would serve the Crossways Schools Consortium, a coalition of Deptford Green, Telegraph Hill, Addey and Stanhope and Crofton schools.

Lewisham College was also a member of the consortium until September 2000.

The council is currently waiting to see if the Learning Skills Council will approve a £9.71m bid to transform the site in to a centre which would attract 19-year-olds.

Deputy for lifelong learning Councillor Katy Donnelly defended the decision to press on with the college.

She said: "The plan for a sixth form has received overwhelming support from those most affected, such as the pupils and the schools themselves and it is right to go ahead so it can be open as soon as possible.

"Our overwhelming objective is to improve educational standards across the borough as a whole and improve standards in all schools so they become popular choices."

November 12, 2001 9:00

Patrick John