Extra summits to debate new school

A FRESH series of meetings are to be held across Saddleworth in the wake of the proposal to build a new £15m secondary school at Diggle.

Feelings have been running high since the announcement to relocate Saddleworth School from its present site in Uppermill to land near the old pallet works at Diggle.

And a review of the plans will be be one of the topics when the combined Saddleworth and Lees Community Associations host a meeting at Lees Library at 2pm on Saturday,

They will also examine how to build a profile for their newly-formed alliance and “positive relationships” between their organisation and parish councillors.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Saddleworth Parish Council will discuss latest developments and updates on the school at a public meeting at the Civic Centre in Uppermill at 7pm.

And all Diggle residents are invited to attend the community association’s meeting at Diggle Band Club on Thursday, November 14 at 8pm.

A leaflet circulated across the community by Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG), which is pressing for the new school to be built on its existing site in Uppermill, says its representatives will be at the meeting.

Oldham Council presented its proposal for the new school at a public consultation in Uppermill on October 16 attended by more than 200 locals. There had been an earlier public meeting organised by Saddleworth Parish Council.

But since then SDAG, headed by the borough’s former heritage champion, Councillor Mike Buckley, has been gaining support from the community to develop the new school on its existing site.

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