Campus victim of funding ‘blunder’
A Lanarkshire MSP made a blistering attack on the Scottish Government this week following reports that blunders led to funding being pulled from UWS Hamilton’s Almada Street campus project. The £53m redevelopment scheme, unveiled in 2013, had included the demolition of the existing Almada Street building to be replaced with a new courtyard design and landscaping.
The plans were based on a £27m contribution from the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government but UWS’S match-funding proposal was rejected.
UWS then embarked on a controversial proposal that could have seen it relocate to Eurocentral in North Lanarkshire.
A leaked report compiled by accountants Scottmoncrieff, commissioned by the SFC, follows statements made by education secretary John Swinney.
Opposition MSPS pointed out he had told Holyrood’s education committee in December that all institutions had received all their expected funding.
The accountants’ report focused on £50m of unspent SFC reserves. SFC officials did not understand how they had acquired the money. When the Scottish Government learned of the matter they wanted it returned to the public purse, thwarting a number of projects.
Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon said this week: “Thanks to leaked documents, the truth about the fate of UWS Hamilton out there.
“Despite warnings from the Scottish Funding Council, the Scottish Government knew all along the Hamilton campus would be cut loose and was prepared to kill off the longawaited redevelopment of the former Bell College site, which had been expected since 2006.
“With its excellent transport links and proximity to the town centre, this site has served students and the town well for decades.
“The SNP government, despite its big talk on promoting town centres and widening access to education, was willing to choke off funding for an otherwise viable project.”
An Advertiser ‘Keep UWS in Hamilton’ campaign, supported by politicians, businesses and students, saw UWS decide not to relocate to North Lanarkshire and move instead to a site at Hamilton International Technology Park. is finally
Ms Lennon added: “The only reason UWS still has a future in South Lanarkshire is down to the determination of students, local people and South Lanarkshire Council.
“I was relieved when the council stepped in to help UWS secure an alternative site. However, these revelations will leave many feeling Hamilton has been short-changed.”
Ms Lennon pointed to a statement made by then secretary for education Angela Constance in Holyrood in October 2015 that the SFC was supportive of the Almada Street campus project.
Responding to a question by former Uddingston and Bellshill MSP Michael Mcmahon, Ms Constance said the redevelopment of the Almada Street campus would be “one of the highest priorities when the SFC develops and publishes its infrastructure investment plan”.
A Scottish Government spokesman said this week that Ms Lennon’s view of the situation was wrong, adding: “Neither the Hamilton nor Dumfries projects were committed to.
“Since this report was commissioned the Scottish Funding Council has supported the development of a new UWS campus at Hamilton International Technology Park by giving advice and consent to a long-term lease, the use of £13.5m in capital from the disposal of the existing Hamilton campus and other surplus land and £10m in borrowing.”
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse SNP MSP Christina Mckelvie said: “I’m sad that the UWS campus will not continue at the former Bell College site with all its emotive and historic importance to Hamilton.
”But with the UWS moving to their new, state-of-the-art, modern eco-campus in the town, secured with funding from the Scottish Government, this was always a collective aim to keep the campus in our town from staff, students and local people, myself included.
“I’m proud that we achieved this aim. The new campus stands to generate over £443 million to the local economy over the next 25 years, meaning jobs, prosperity and a long-term sustainable future for UWS in the town.
“That’s what to everyone constituency.”
A UWS spokesman said: “Work has now begun on our new Lanarkshire campus, which will provide a major boost to the Lanarkshire and West of Scotland economies and deliver the most modern and advanced higher education facilities in Scotland. We understand the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government view the project as a high priority and we are committed to continuing to work constructively with them to ensure the successful delivery of the campus.” matters in my