Proposed £18.5m campus to replace John Summers High School under threat as project is put on hold.

Uncertainty once again hangs over the future of John Summers High School and Queensferry Primary school as Flintshire County Council call a halt to a proposed £18.5 replacement and refurbishment program.

Building work was due to start in July 2015 with a new High school scheduled to open in January 2017 however, council leaders are to pause and review progress on the proposed development.

The contract to build the £18.5 million scheme, providing a 600 place three storey secondary school for 11-16 year olds with a new link to a refurbished 240 place primary school for 3-11 year olds has already been awarded to Kier Construction and planning is at an advanced stage.

The proposed scheme could be in danger of becoming the first high profile project to be shelved on the back of unprecedented cuts to council funding announced just last week.

Councillor Aaron Shotton, Leader of the Council said,

“Flintshire County Council is to pause and review progress on the Queensferry Campus Project, a new school building to replace John Summers High School and refurbish the adjoining Queensferry Primary School.

“The pause and review is being undertaken as a result of updated information and it is necessary to test the viability of the project due to a drop in actual and projected pupils numbers in the area, together with delays to the anticipated timescale of the Northern Gateway development within the County.

“Local Government across Wales, including here in Flintshire, is being expected to continue to bear the brunt of austerity. The authority has no option but to review the sustainability of services, given the budget announcements on reduction in revenue funding for future years.

“The review will take a number of months and we will provide further information as it progresses.

“Whilst the decision to pause and review and the reasoning behind it will be the initial focus, we do need to conclude on the format the review will take, timing and how stakeholders can express their views.”