Protest over colleges plan

Hundreds of students marched through the centre of Shrewsbury today in protest at plans to move the sixth form college out of the town centre.

The sixth formers held placards and shouted "Say no to co-lo" as they took to the streets along with Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawzcynski.

An application to co-locate the college to a site shared with Shrewsbury Arts and Technology College in London Road is being considered by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough council.

But the students claim that their views were not listened to during public consultation and were determined to make their views heard today.

A spokesman said: "The aim of today is to get our voice heard, we are young adults, many of us are old enough to vote but we are being told 'you are not old enough to discuss your education'. There is no evidence that co-location will work and we do not want to be guinea pigs."

The students marched from the Quarry towards the gates of the sixth form before heading across town and up Pride Hill.

The march comes the day after hundreds of people turned out to a public meeting over the proposed co-location of Shrewsbury's two colleges.

More than 200 people attended the open meeting at the Guildhall last night but just two spoke out for the proposal.

The meeting heard that officials at the Learning and Skills Council had said they would look at funding the modernisation of the two colleges at their current sites.

Provisional funding is available for the co-location proposal but Mr Kawcsynski, who called the meeting, said he had been told it was the only option they were given.

Councillor Peter Nutting, who attended the event as an observer due to the submission of the planning application, said it was a very sensible debate.

He said: "In terms of arguments there were very positive arguments about why the co-location couldn't take place.

"One was the effects of the travel plan, which includes creating cycleways on London Road, which is relatively narrow and has residents parking near their homes.

"The most logical and clear arguments came from the students, they have come out of this debate with flying colours."