Residents go it alone over Academy debate

Councillor Jack Hulme . . . the council is confident that this consultation procedure is sufficient

ROYTON residents have shunned Oldham Council’s drop-in consultations on the new Oldham Academy North site for a public meeting of their own.

They are unhappy that the “superficial” two-hour exercises which they say will not give the public time to air their views properly.

The new building will occupy the Our Lady’s site in Royton, once the new Roman Catholic school on Broadway, Chadderton, is complete.

The council has published venues for its sessions, but only one will be held in Royton.

Members of iRoyton community news website have arranged a Question Time-style meeting at The Oddies, Union Street, from 6.30pm on Thursday next week.

Paul Young, who helps run the site, said: “Only one of the council’s meetings is being held in Royton and that’s at rush-hour — nobody will turn up. They will simply be a series of presentations showing the finalised plans. We need to discuss traffic and parking problems — there’s no point in having consultations too late to get anything because any feedback provided at this late stage would probably just be ignored.

“We feel that the rush to start construction work by July means that Our Lady’s pupils will not have had chance to move to the new Roman Catholic School.”

The council’s timescales for the new building comprise of consultation sessions at the end of March, submission of a full planning application in April and construction of the new building, commencing in July.

Original literature by the council indicated that the building would also be a community facility for voluntary groups, sports clubs and local businesses.

Councillor Jack Hulme, cabinet member for children and families said: “Oldham Council has a well-established consultation process that has been used effectively in the past. It is in three stages and involves consulting with pupils first, then parents and other citizens and finally any interested parties from the wider community.

“Sessions open to the public will be held at The Oldham Academy North on Tuesday, March 22, from 3.45pm-4.45pm and also on Wednesday, March 23, at Our Lady’s School, Royton (Broadway Building) from 5pm-7pm.

“There is also the opportunity to comment via email to bsf@oldham. gov.uk.

“The council is confident that this consultation procedure is sufficient and it welcomes all input.

“Any issues raised at this meeting can also be submitted to the consultation team in the same way as any other individual or group is entitled to do.”