NCC stresses commitment to Bircham

The National Construction College (NCC) has emphatically rejected suggestions from a local politician that it wasn't serious about staying at its beleaguered NCC East site.

The denial comes after King's Lynn & West Norfolk County Council's leader John Dobson said he thought NCC had been considering reorganising the locations of its training colleges around the country anyway, and would have remained at the Bircham Newton site only if it could obtain funding easily.

"What's surprising is the kind of measures they are talking about if they don't get the grant. They seem to have a plan B - it's almost as if they recognise that this (NCC East) will not be a popular site with students," he said.

NCC spokesman Andy Walder dismissed the idea, saying: "The NCC absolutely refutes this claim. NCC East has been in operation at Bircham for more than 40 years and our commitment to have a flagship college at that location has always been, and continues to be, our preferred option. We have demonstrated that by going through the planning application and appeal process."

He said transferring training to other areas would have "severe limitations when it comes to specialist occupations". The NCC is talking to the Learning and Skills Council and the East of England Development Agency over the college's future. The board is expected to discuss the subject on 21 February.