RESIDENTS are set to receive the first glimpse of a new centre for 2,000 sixth form students in and around Ipswich later this week.

Danielle Nuttall

RESIDENTS are set to receive the first glimpse of a new centre for 2,000 sixth form students in and around Ipswich later this week.

A planning exhibition on the new SWISS centre is to go on show at the Holiday Inn hotel in London Road, Ipswich, tomorrow and Saturday.

The displays will show members of the public what the finished centre will look like and what it will provide.

The proposed new South West Ipswich and South Suffolk (SWISS) centre for 14 to 19-year-olds would open in September 2010 and would be built on land to the south of London Road and Scrivener Drive.

It would replace the existing post-16 education at Chantry High School, Claydon and Thurleston high schools, Westbourne Sports College, and Belstead and Thomas Wolsey special schools.

A six-week consultation into the plans has just been carried out, generating around 1,000 responses. It won significant support, although concerns remain about public transport to the new site, which would be in London Road/Scrivener Drive, Ipswich.

A total of 88% of young people believed the SWISS centre would be a good place to learn and 82% said they thought it would bring more opportunities.

The county council hopes to gather comments and feedback during the planning exhibition, which will open from 6pm until 9.30pm tomorrow and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

The planning application will be submitted in May 2008, when there will be a further chance to comment on the SWISS Centre proposals.

Anyone who is unable to attend the exhibition can visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/SWISS for details of the proposals from Friday 18.