A MAJOR management shake-up will take place at the College of West Anglia before the building of a new Fenland campus. Both the principal and his deputy are retiring at the end of the academic year by which time everything should be in place for work to b

A MAJOR management shake-up will take place at the College of West Anglia before the building of a new Fenland campus.

Both the principal and his deputy are retiring at the end of the academic year by which time everything should be in place for work to begin on the 200-acre site off the A141 March bypass.

Peter Stewart and Dave Crow have between them given 35 years' service to the college. The joint departure is coincidental as both men are now in their 60s.

Since becoming principal in 1995, Mr Stewart has overseen a number of developments including two mergers, successful inspections, plans for new campus buildings and the achievement of Centre of Vocational Excellence status in a number of subjects.

He said: "I am extremely pleased with the way higher education is developing in the area. I am very proud that the college is regarded as one of the top in the country."

The decision to plump for the March bypass site, as revealed in October last year, ended months of uncertainty. The new campus will be created following the merger of the Isle College in Wisbech with the King's Lynn based West Anglia College.

Funding for the £35million March campus and for a new £60million campus in King's Lynn has been agreed subject to detailed planning. Architects are now finalising plans for the March site.

Mr Stewart said he believed the new campus would help stop the haemorrhaging of talent from the area and the state-of-the-art facilities would benefit the whole community.

He said: "I am sorry that I won't be there to see the new buildings completed - but by the time Dave Crow and I leave we will have everything in place to make sure those buildings become a reality.