South East Essex College's £55 million relocation to Southend town centre must not be allowed to fail, council boss George Krawiec has said.

He spoke out today (Tuesday) after the Further Education Funding Council failed to back the plans at a meeting earlier this month.

The body had been asked to contribute £16million to the overall cost of the proposals.

In a report to today's Tory cabinet, Mr Krawiec said: "The decision is impossible to comprehend, bearing in mind the regional body warmly recommended approval, as has the Higher Education Funding Council.

"I am sure cabinet members will agree that this matter cannot and must not be left unchallenged and, upon instructions of the leader, I have already written to relevant authorities, both at local and regional level, and other councils to gather support.

"I am confident that this will be forthcoming."

Under the proposals, the college had hoped to move to the prime location off the High Street linked to a new shopping centre on the site of the former Odeon cinema.

Mr Krawiec added: "The scheme is vital to the well-being of Southend, south Essex and beyond and the joined up approach it indicated can be seen as exemplar to promote our cause."

He said the scheme was a vital pillar of support for the Thames Gateway regeneration initiative, which has recently been extended to south Essex.

Mr Krawiec said: "It is my strong view that we cannot and must not accept that it will not happen."

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