WHITEHILL Cross is looking more doubtful as the site for Newton Abbot's new vocational skills centre because of the high development costs.

The greenfield site near the new hospital had been regarded as the preferred site, because of its easy transport links and potential for growth.

Newton Abbot Town Council had been invited to add their support to the choice of that site, but members heard at last Wednesday's meeting that high infrastructure costs could put it out of the running.

The matter is urgent as in order to get funding an application has to be made to the Learning and Skills Centre next month.

An alternative is the Teignbridge Council-owned site at Collett Way on the Brunel Industrial Estate. Teignbridge Council had planned to build industrial units for sale but this was shelved through lack of demand.

Cllr Keith Smith said that he had attended a Regeneration Panel meeting where it was said that the Whitehill Cross site presented 'insurmountable problems'.

'The feeling of that meeting was that Collett Way is not an ideal site but the money is available and we need that centre fast.'

His worry was that the Collett Way site was too small and would not allow for future growth, he said.

Cllr Ken Lewis baulked at the idea of putting the new centre in the middle of an industrial centre.

'If we are expecting our disillusioned youngsters to go along to this place, let us make it encouraging rather than forbidding.'

Several members of Newton Abbot Town Council argued in favour of Collett Way because it is available.

Cllr David Corney-Walker, also a member of Teignbridge Council's executive, with special responsibility for economic development, which includes Collett Way, declared a personal interest.

He added: 'Having worked for 25 years as a technical lecturer I can speak with some authority on technical education. We want this skills centre desperately.'

He counselled members not to choose a site which might be unavailable.

'I'm not saying Collett Way is the answer. We should look at other alternatives if Jetty Marsh is not financially viable.'

He argued that technical colleges can operate perfectly well scattered over several sites. The important thing is for them to be close to employers.

But Cllr Mike Hocking felt that Collett Way was very much second best.

He mooted another site in Bradley Lane but Cllr Anne Fry pointed out that it was owned neither by the district nor county council. She said, given the time pressure, they had little choice.

Mayor Cllr David Howe felt it was not the council's job to name a specific site. Members passed a motion supporting Mr Haigh in pursuing the development of a skills centre as a matter of priority, 'within the boundary of NA on an available site'.