Environment Minister Visits New Campus

(l-r) Local Labour party candidate David Williams, student Sam Colclough and Minister for the Environment David Kidney on the roof of the new building by the solar water panels

Environment Minister David Kidney visited high-flying South Cheshire College to meet staff and students and see the College's new campus taking shape.

The Stafford-based MP gave an informal talk to students from different subject areas in the College's Café Chill, before answering questions from the floor.

Linda Buchanan, Media Lecturer and Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator at the College, co-ordinated the visit which gave students the perfect opportunity to speak to Mr Kidney in the run up to the General Election in May.

Mr Kidney began his visit by taking a tour around the College's new state-of-the-art campus, which is currently under construction and set to open in September this year.

The futuristic new design is being pieced together by BAM Construction and will revolutionise further education in Crewe and Nantwich for generations to come.

Ian Greener, BAM Construction Manager, conducted the tour which took in some of the eco-friendly aspects of the £74 million project.

Some of the environmentally-friendly features which are being incorporated into the new design include naturally ventilated teaching spaces and windows angled to gain or minimise sunlight during different seasons of the year.

Green roofs on top of the building have also been created to preserve a natural environment, while rainwater will be collected from the roof areas and collected for the watering of sports pitches and landscaping.

David Kidney said: "This was my first visit to South Cheshire College and I was very impressed with what I saw.

"I was particularly blown away by the new campus and the environmentally sustainable features of the project.

"Everyone who has been involved in bringing the new campus project to fruition deserves a great deal of credit for what they have achieved."

Mr Kidney was accompanied on his visit by local Labour candidate David Williams, Director of Operations and New Build Nigel Peet, Head of Campus Development Jenny Harris, BAM Project Manager Mark Ferrie and college A-Level student Sam Colclough.

David Williams said: "I was delighted to visit South Cheshire College along with the Minister for the Environment and chat to staff and students ahead of the election.

"The new building is very eye catching and I'm sure that students will benefit from a fantastic learning environment and buzzing atmosphere when it opens."

Linda Buchanan added: "We are grateful to David Kidney for taking time out from his hectic schedule to come to college and chat to students on an informal basis.

"It was also the perfect opportunity to be able to coincide his visit with a tour around our new campus which everyone here is very excited about."

For further information about the new campus development project please contact Chris Bentley at South Cheshire College on +44 (0)1270 654652.