School plan’s second hearing

THE controversial plans for the £19.2 million Saddleworth School in Diggle will be reconsidered on Wednesday, April 13 — two months after they were given the go-ahead.

The proposals to build the secondary school on part of the former WH Shaw Pallet Works site were passed by Oldham Council’s planning committee on February 25.

However, only hours before the meeting the council had received a letter from objectors who want the school rebuilt on its current site in Uppermill.

They claimed not enough importance had been given to the impact the school would have on listed buildings which will remain at the site, and that the council would be acting “unlawfully” if the plans were passed.

A request for a deferment was refused and the proposals were approved, but the council then revealed that it would reconsider them. It acted so that it would not leave itself open to a judicial review.

The new planning meeting will be held at Oldham Civic Centre at 6pm.