Plans for a £70m college in Belfast were in disarray last night after the University of Ulster withdrew its support for the project.

The university revealed it would be pulling its £8m funding for the Springvale Educational Village, a joint venture between the university and Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education (BIFHE), during a review meeting of the Springvale Board last night.

Explaining the reasoning behind the decision, Prof Bill Clarke, the University of Ulster's Springvale project manager, said: "The social, educational and economic problems of west and north Belfast are chronic and require priority action, and need to be addressed in a more responsive and flexible way than could be achieved in the original Springvale plan."

Prof Clarke said that any perception of his university lessening their commitment to a solution for the area was misleading and inaccurate.

However, the decision angered Springvale Board member Una Gillespie who criticised the manner in which the university dealt with the issue.

She said: "This community has been treated appallingly by an institution that had no qualms on applying for money internationally on the backs of the people of north and west Belfast.

"They are trying to convince us that they cannot find £1.6m per year to repay a loan of £8m plus their commitments under Private Finance Initiative."

BIFHE said they were also disappointed with the decision but remained committed to the Springvale project.

The acting director of BIFHE, Trevor Neilands, said it was apparent that the issues facing the Springvale project were fundamental. He added that there was an urgent need for consultation with the university, the local community and other potential parties on alternative models of delivery.

(MB)