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‘Done deal’ fear of academy objectors
Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date online: 01/07/2009
ANTI-ACADEMY opponents attending tonight’s planning committee fear proposals for a new school on land at the former Orb Mill site is a done deal.
Residents are set to speak against controversial plans for the new academy, in Huddersfield Road, which has been recommended for approval.
A total of 87 letters of objection from 66 addresses, and 12 letters from unknown addresses, have been received by planners.
But residents fear the building will go ahead regardless of their views.
A spokeswoman for the residents, who did not want to be identified, said: “We hope by speaking against the plans it will stop the proposal going through because the site is totally unsuitable.
“But the cynic in me says they will ignore it. We think it’s a done deal. They’ve bought the land, done the preparatory work and have appointed the head teacher.
“Why are they doing that if they’ve not got planning permission?”
The new academy is part of Oldham Council’s £230 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) proposals to transform secondary education.
Specialising in English and vocational education, it will replace Breeze Hill and Counthill Schools and will be run by Oldham Sixth-Form College.
A planning application for a new academy at Brook Mill, Hollins Road, which is also on the agenda, has seen 11 letters of objection and one letter of support sent to planners. Christian charity Oasis will run the academy in Hollins Road which will replace Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools.
It will specialise in maths, computing and business and enterprise.
Objectors to the Huddersfield Road school cited traffic and parking problems, anti-social behaviour, inadequate public transport and lack of sports facilities as the main obstacles.
Other reasons include the site being too small to accommodate 1,500 pupils, possible conflict between Counthill and Breeze Hill pupils and a near-by reservoir could pose a safety threat.
However, the planning report states that the majority of concerns raised could be minimised by attaching appropriate conditions to planning consent, and by working with the school.
Councillor Roger Hindle, planning chairman, said extensive consultation had taken place including posting five site notices and sending consultation letters to 392 neighbours.
Have Your Say
"attaching appropriate conditions to planning consent". Yeah that works. When was the last time appropriate consitions were adhered to on a planning issue. I've seen many go through and months / years after we are told they cannot be applied by law unless there is a legal covenant covering the permission. Which there never is. Thats an underhand way of giving permission to things the public do not want!
Didn't Badgers Rake, Springhead, have permission to build three storeis and built four? Didn't Tesco Hudd Rd have permission for three stories but popped a fourth part floor in. Haven't several Saddleworth properties converted barns only for occasional habitation only to move into them later? You can do what ever you want if you 'promise' to do whats asked later on. If you don't, well, nothing we can do guv.
like everything else morgana60. the council thinks its a good idea so thats all that matters. not what the people of oldham actually think.
these academies will not solve anything! except free up old school sites to sell on to housing deelopers!
"1500 pupils running riot", what an appaling attitude you have to young people. As for "the reservoir where a child could die" it's almost an identical distance from counthill school to "the reservoir where a child could die" yet somehow they managed to not die. There are many good reasons to oppose this academy, those are possibly the two worst.
RECIPE FOR DISASTER:
2 Large failing schools
Underachieving pupils
Teaching staff with no control
ADD a history of violence at both schools plus underlying ethnic problems
Season with lots of council knows best. Objections of affected parties can be ignored & skimmed off
Stir ingredients together & place in a totally unsuitable location
Let mix simmer 'til it reaches boiling point. Wait for explosion
RESULT: One huge failed school causing untold problems for a large area of the town
As we thought-council steamrollering this school through when it is dangerous, unsuitable and will cause major disruption. "majority of concerns raised could be minimised " How are they going to minimise the traffic probs, the reservoir where a child could die, 1500 pupils running riot
B******ks !!
By morgana60 @ 01/07/2009 16:02:36
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