EDUCATION chiefs have slammed the Government’s decision to halt the redevelopment of Witney College — and fear students will study elsewhere.

The Learning and Skills Council said it was reviewing college projects following the economic downturn, and Witney was one of 79 projects affected.

Part of the redevelopment proposals at the Holloway Road site included new training facilities in catering and hairdressing for an extra 200 students and a new sixth-form building.

The project is on hold indefinitely.

Nicky Edmondson, the headteacher of Henry Box School, said the decision to put the £30m campus on hold was a disappointment.

Ms Edmondson said: “Any delay is very disappointing for us. We already feel that there is a limited range of vocational subjects, such as hairdressing and catering, and there is quite a strong demand for those sorts of subjects. Students will potentially go elsewhere, or they will chose other courses with less interest to them.

“We were looking forward to the range of courses being offered from 2010.

“Many of our students benefit by taking courses at Abingdon and Witney College — particularly Witney.”

Niall McWilliams, headteacher of Carterton Community College, said: “From our point of view, we are really disappointed. It’s a restriction on our students’ future education opportunities, which will have major implications for them.”

A spokesman for the LSC — the body responsible for funding the building work at the college sites — said: “Too many colleges across the country were wishing to expand or redevelop at the same time, and the amount of funding each required the Government to provide was too much.”

The college has been left with a £40,000 bill for temporary classroom accommodation, after students were transferred last year.

About 450 full-time students, aged between 16 and 18, attend the college.

In addition, 1,100 adult students use the facilities.

Student Amber Lee, 18, of Woodstock Road, said: “It’s a real shame for the newcomers — especially those who want to study beauty therapy. We are already in temporary accommodation, which needs to be bigger. The students thinking about joining the college would expect to be going in to a redeveloped college and they will end up in temporary classrooms like us.”

Witney Chamber of Commerce chairman, Lesley Semaine, said she was “shocked by the decision”.

She added: “I am just amazed at this late date the Government has stopped it. What a tragedy!”

Steve Billcliffe, director of the Witney College development, said: “These are certainly anxious times for the college. The delay that has been imposed could have serious consequences for the education of young people in the area.”

He said the college redevelopment, which was due to be finished in September next year, was determined to overcome the setbacks.

He said: “We are now making plan so we can deliver our promise of introducing catering and hairdressing skills training on time.”

The LSC is due to fund 80 per cent of the building work, with the college putting up £6m.

A spokesman for the LSC said it was unknown when redevelopment work would resume.