THE Channelside campus of Furness College was about to become a hive of activity 20 years ago as a construction site was prepared for what would become a £4.5m learning resource centre for Barrow.

This building work had the aim of establishing all the college departments on a single site beside the Walney Channel.

it would see the closure and sale of the Howard Street branch of the college, while other uses were found for former college buildings such the John Whinnerah Institute and the Barrow Technical College on Abbey Road.

Construction work officially started in December 1999 with a turf lifting ceremony.

Among those taking part were Bill Edmonds, the college's director of resources; Jeff Sawyer, managing director of the builders, Allenbuild; Graeme Clark, chairman of the college governors and Maggie Chadwick, college principal.

December also saw the opening of the Furness College Day Nursery by Barrow mayor Jean Waiting.

The Mail, on December 8, noted: "By October next year, the new complex should be complete and students enrolling for the year 2000-2001 should be able to make the most of the new facilities.

"This is the next chapter in Furness College's history, which will cater for students well into the new millennium."

Jeff Sawyer, of Allenbuild, said: "As we enter the 21st century, the college recognises a need to update and extend the educational facilities - a need which is being fulfilled by the new resource centre and workshop extension.

Director of resources, Bill Edmonds, said: "The new learning resource centre will be two double-storey buildings which will be joined by one floor in the middle.

"It is very exciting news for the college and we have been working on the relocation plans for about three years."

The article noted: "The new learning resources centre will consist of a careers advice office, library with a private study areas, dedicated computer suite with more than 40 multimedia workstations with internet and email functions, training kitchen and restaurant, student refectory and student services facility.

"Other facilities will include information technology workrooms housing more than 130 personal computers for the resource-based learning and learning online."

In July 2000 there was a topping out ceremony as the roof was completed at the college extension.

Guests included Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young; Barrow Borough Council chief executive Tom Campbell and contracts director Geoff Allan.

In November 2000 Furness College accepted ownership of the new centre with a presentation key being handed over.