Petition plea over school site saga

SADDLEWORTH’S independent councillors are to petition Oldham Council and the Education Funding Agency to build the new multi-million pound school in Uppermill.

They plan to present a 3,000-strong petition signed by parents, residents and businesses urging the new school to be built in the village, not Diggle.

The EFA is expected to make a decision by the autumn on the site of the £17million secondary school, which will house 1,500 students. Feasibility studies at the various sites, which include two in Diggle, are nearing completion.

Independent councillor Nikki Kirkham and Saddleworth parish councillors Mike Buckley, Rob Knotts, Lesley Brown and Lesley Schofield have written to the EFA chief executive requesting the wishes of local people are fully taken into consideration when making the decision. And want a date to present their petition.

A plan by Oldham Council to build the school in Diggle was overturned in June following a meeting between Saddleworth independent councillors and the EFA. It was decided to include the Uppermill site as an option.

Parish councillor Nikki Kirkham said: “The EFA has said the school can be built in Uppermill, it just boils down to cost.

“We are convinced it will cost a lot less to build the school in Uppermill as the playing fields and public transport arrangements are already in place. It all hinges on whether Oldham Council will subsidise the EFA costs in Diggle.”