** APPROVED!! Two of our North West Durham Schools for multi-million pound School Rebuilding Programme Funding **
It’s fantastic that both:
- Leadgate Primary School
- Lanchester E.P Primary School
Have been two of the 239 schools England-wide who’ve got the funding. Both need significant building works and full details will be available in coming months. I’ve been really glad to have been able to visit both schools in the last few months.
I’d like to thank Cllr Ted Henderson and the team at Durham County Council for the interest they’ve shown and the work they’ve put in and Local councillors - especially Lanchester Ward Councillors Doug Oliver and Mike McGaun who’ve mentioned the need to me.
The senior leaderships of both schools were very pleased when I was able to call them with the news. As long as due diligence is all passed and sorted - it’s full steam ahead.
Mr Watson from Leadgate was both delighted and surprised when I call as he had mentioned the issues with the building recently when he’d shown me round the junior site recently.
And Andrew Knighton, Deputy Headteacher at Lanchester said:
“We are thrilled that we are going to receive much needed funding for our school buildings. This will have a significant impact on the children and the local community. It was great that our MP took the time to phone me personally to let us know the exciting news. He has clearly worked behind the scenes to help the children of Lanchester. The funding we have secured will allow us to bring the school into the 21st century and give us the building and environment that our children deserve.”
This comes on top of DCC helping out with £350,000 towards major improvement works at Witton-le-Wear Primary School that I campaigned for earlier in the year.
Villa Real School Consett didn’t make this round but I have been assured by ministers that the schools rebuilding fund is still open for further rounds and I’ll continue pushing for them to get the funding they need too.
Best wishes and Merry Christmas!
Details here: https://www.gov.uk/.../school.../school-rebuilding-programme