CONTROVERSIAL plans to scrap Mid-Cheshire College’s childcare facilities have been thrown into doubt.

College officials had embarked on an ambitious scheme to completely rebuild the Hartford campus – without an on-site nursery – but a lack of funds has put the plans on hold.

A number of students at Mid-Cheshire College contacted the Guardian complaining about principal John Reilly’s announcement that when the new college is finally built, it will not have a nursery or crèche as it does currently.

But Mr Reilly this week said no student would suffer if and when the building scheme goes ahead, He said: “For the past two years, we have been working on a plan to create a brand new campus at Hartford.

“We have to work within very tight space constraints, imposed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

“As a result, we made the decision that the new college would not contain purpose-built nursery facilities.

“We will, instead, use this space to enhance and extend facilities that will be directly used for teaching and learning.”

However, students with babies and young children will continue to be supported, he said, with the college subsidising childcare support by funding students to buy their own childcare from nurseries in the Hartford area or nearer to students’ homes.

Mr Reilly added: “I have made a personal commitment that the level of support, if the new build goes ahead, will at least match the level of support currently offered.

“The irony is that our new college is now under threat due to the mismanagement of the LSC and we are unlikely to know, for some time, if our plans for re-building the Hartford campus, are going to be realised.”