A STATE of the art sixth form centre, which will revolutionise the way post-16 education is run in south Suffolk, has been given the go ahead.

Russell Claydon

A STATE of the art sixth form centre, which will revolutionise the way post-16 education is run in south Suffolk, has been given the go ahead.

Councillors unanimously backed multi-million pound proposals for the South West Ipswich

and South Suffolk (SWISS) centre today, despite local opposition.

The centre - which will now go ahead subject to the approval from the Secretary of State - will cater for 2,000 youngsters aged 14-19 in and around Ipswich and will be built on land to the south of London Road and Scrivener Drive.

It will open in September 2010 and 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.

Pinewood Parish Council stated their deep concerns about the impact the centre would have on nearby residents at a meeting of Suffolk County Council's development control committee held at Endeavour House this morning.