Work is underway on a £22.3m redevelopment of Coatbridge College.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, visited Coatbridge College today and took part in a turf-cutting ceremony outside the college which is benefitting from the accelerated capital spend announced by the Scottish Government earlier this year - a scheme enabling capital funding for future years to be brought forward to help secure construction and engineering jobs in the local and national economy.

The funding, which includes £20m from the Scottish Funding Council and £2.3m from the College, means that redevelopment work can start up to a year earlier than planned, with an estimated completion date of January 2011.

It will pay for major access improvements to the main building, helping people with disabilities, through the construction of new internal areas and floor levelling and the installation of lifts. An atrium between the south and north buildings will also be created, forming a new entrance. This will contain new student facilities, including a coffee internet café and seating areas, as well as giving better access to areas such as student services and the learner resource centre.

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Ms Hyslop said: "Colleges like Coatbridge have a vital role to play in ensuring our people have access to the right skills and training they need to get into work, stay in work and further their careers so that they can make a full contribution to Scotland's economic recovery when the time comes.

"I'm delighted that Coatbridge has been able to benefit from the Government's decision to accelerate our capital spending in the public sector - a move which means that projects like this can begin sooner, that jobs in construction are created or safeguarded at this difficult time and that local communities can benefit more quickly from new facilities."

John Gray, Chair of the Board of Management for Coatbridge College, said: "The continuing investment in Scotland's College's and in particular Scotland's oldest College is appreciated by both the Board of Management, College staff and in particular the many varied communities that we serve.

"This major investment in our College will provide the people of Lanarkshire and beyond with a first class fully accessible campus fit for the 21st Century."

Coatbridge College, established in 1891, has operated from its main campus, the South Building, in Kildonan Street, Coatbridge since 1934.

(GK/JM)