By Conor Sharkey
STRABANE'S Further Education College could be demolished to make way for a new ten million pound facility, if proposals revealed this week get the go ahead.
A major push towards securing the multi-million pound college facility for Strabane will begin in the Autumn.
Director of the North West Regional College Seamus Murphy revealed that a proposal will be tabled to the Department for Employment and Learning for a completely new build on the Derry Road site later this year. It is understood the new campus, if given the go ahead, will cost between eight and ten million pounds and will be around three times the size of the current facility.
The current Strabane building was constructed in 1950. Since then it has fallen far behind its counterparts in Derry and Limavady in terms of a physical presence and resources. Over the next six months alone, more than £200,000 will be spent on the upkeep of the somewhat ailing building.
During a presentation to Strabane District Council on Monday night, Mr Murphy outlined his hopes for the new facility. Under his proposal, the current building would make way for a car park, with the new build being erected on a green area to the rear of the current facility.
With regards to courses on offer, the main bulk of the campaign for a new Further Education College lies in the fact that Strabane offers almost no construction courses. This shortfall in courses such as electrical, scaffolding and building was recently highlighted at Stormont by MP Pat Doherty and MLA Claire McGill. The Sinn Fein delegation said it was imperative these courses became available if the local facility was to build up a strong student base.
At present, there are only three full-time courses available at Strabane College. The only course unique to the local branch of the North West College is a dentistry course which is run in tandem with Queens University.
During Monday night's council meeting, link ups between the North West College and the Alley Theatre and possibly the new Holy Cross College were all suggested by representatives.
These were already in the process of being explored, as were possible cross border links, Mr Murphy explained.
Looking to the Autumn and the proposals to be tabled before the DEL, Mr Murphy said: "I would hope that a new build in Strabane will become a reality and that the Department will look on our proposal favourably.
"The current building is not a 21st century facility and there is no question that it does not serve the local population on a range of issues.
"Strabane Council has been very supportive on this issue and everyone seems keen to take it forward. I'm confident that support will continue," he said.
With regards to the role of Further Education Colleges in society today, Mr Murphy said he believed they still held a vital role.
"In terms of employment Further Education Colleges are crucial. They are the driving force behind economic regeneration.
"University can give you a degree but Further Education Colleges provide the bread and butter qualifications that are critical to economic growth," he said.
