Minster College consults community over new build

Students, parents, local organisations and residents are being urged to voice their opinions on plans to replace Minster College in Leominster.

Since Herefordshire Council gave approval to replace the existing college with
a new modern building for 1020 students, work has continued at the college to prepare plans for the rebuild.

A great deal of research and consultation has been going on behind the scenes in order to make sure that the new building will provide the best possible facilities for a 21st century school and college in Leominster.

Herefordshire Council Cabinet met in September and agreed that the plans should be for a school for children aged 11 to 18 with space for 900 students in the 11-16 section and 120 students in the sixth form. There are also plans for further community facilities on site to complement the Leominster Leisure Centre, swimming pool and the Children's Centre. For example, the plans have capacity to include a youth centre, the Marches Consortium teacher training centre and a Learning and Skills Council employer business centre.

"Having a new building provides us with a fantastic opportunity to bring services together and make sure our children can access top quality facilities at school, college and after school too," said Richard North, College Principal. "We are eager to ensure that we consult as widely as possible with all our partners in the local Leominster community," he continued. "We need to make sure our plans meet as many needs as possible, now and for future years and look forward to a high attendance at this very important community meeting."

Herefordshire Council has arranged a consultation meeting in the Minster College Main Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 6th December, in order that members of the community can express their views at an open forum.