La Mare rebuild vote will be close
THE fate of the £60m. La Mare de Carteret rebuild hangs in the balance today with deputies still to decide whether to back Education's proposals.
The long-awaited project faces an amendment from the chief minister for further scrutiny of the plans, a move debated heatedly yesterday afternoon.
Education warned that a review would delay construction by at least a year.
After hours of twist and turns in the States yesterday, Education minister Robert Sillars admitted he did not know which way the decision would go today and whether the pleas from students and teachers for 'no more waiting' would be heard.
'It is going to be close and I wouldn't want to judge it either way,' he said.
'We want to make clear this is not extravagant. It is good value for money and it is what over a thousand children in that area absolutely deserve.'
During the debate, Chief Minister Jonathan Le Tocq made clear he was supportive of rebuilding the La Mare de Carteret schools, but the amendment would address concerns raised by Treasury over the size, scope and specification of the project.
He added that if Education was confident in its proposals, the department should not be fearful of the review, which could be completed swiftly and without major delay.
