Improvements to schools 'were down to Lib Dems'

Published: 8:36 AM March 24, 2010 Updated: 4:02 PM November 7, 2020

SIR - I have just seen a glossy publication from the Conservative candidate for North Devon. One wonders whether Lord Ashcroft is paying for this? On the back page is an article local colleges benefit under Conservative - led Council. Well, if you want

SIR - I have just seen a glossy publication from the Conservative candidate for North Devon. One wonders whether Lord Ashcroft is paying for this?

On the back page is an article "local colleges benefit under Conservative - led Council. Well, if you want an example of the Tories having nothing to offer this is it because the work done to win funding for improvements to Chulmleigh and Ifracombe Colleges happened under the Liberal Democrats when we had the majority at County Hall. In this we were strongly supported by our MP Nick Harvey.

Not only do the Tories have nothing to offer they are now so desperate they have to lay claim to others' achievements.

Firstly, when the Liberal Democrats ran DCC we found �1.4 million to help deal with the poorest of the accommodation at Chulmleigh. We also found 250k to give Ilfracombe College a facelift. On top of that, with the help of Nick Harvey, we lobbied Government to bring forward the "Building Schools for the Future" programme and identified both Chulmleigh and Ilfracombe as part of the first wave. The Government agreed and both these North Devon Colleges can look forward to substantial improvements. In arriving at this positive position two Lib Dem local Councillors Geoff Fowler & Joe Tucker played a very significant part.

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Good news for Chulmleigh and Ilfracombe but there are other deserving cases like Pilton Community College. It is clear that the Conservatives, if they win the General Election, will embark on cuts in public spending right away even if the economy is still in a feeble state of recovery. I believe Conservative spending plans will include attacking future funding for "Building Schools for the Future" so whether any others schools in North Devon will get the investment they need is a big question.

The Lib Dems' Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable made clear last week big cuts in public spending too early will simply damage the chances of economic recovery and must be resisted.