STUDENTS and local residents are looking forward to an artistic boost into the 21st century thanks to almost £500,000 worth of funding.

Cheshire County Council's education budget has been set at £500 million including almost £13 million for school building projects.

Part of the budget, totalling £471,000, is to be spent creating a brand new art block at Brine Leas County High School in Nantwich over the next 12 months.

The block is the first stage in a redevelopment programme at the school over the next few years which will include a large number of facilities for the community.

The development plan includes an extension to the sports hall and cricket centre and a performing arts theatre for the community plus an open Access Learning Centre.

Work on the new building is set to start in September and will replace the existing art facilities, which are about 30 years old.

It will include two art rooms and a ceramics suite as the school is one of the few which specialises in ceramics as a separate subject.

The current art facilities will be redeveloped to incorporate a technology suite for science, maths and IT and further developments are planned.

Headteacher Michael Butler said: "The art block is the first stage in what we plan as a redevelopment and refurbishment of the school over the next few years.

"The oldest part of the school was built just after the Second World War so a school that began in the 1950s, to provide a first class education for the 21st century, needs extensive refurbishment and redevelopment"

Head of Art, Alan Leese, said the current art facilities were not practical as art rooms were spread around the school and communication between classes and teachers was difficult.

Members of Nantwich Town Council have been invited to discuss the development plans at Brine Leas next month.

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