Plan drawn up for school to stay put

A PROPOSAL to build the new Saddleworth School on the current site rather than move to Diggle is to be presented to Oldham Council.

The scheme, drawn up by Parish Councillor Mike Buckley with an architect and builder, sees the £15 million school built at the rear of the current site in Uppermill and replacing existing buildings with playing fields.

The current school would remain in operation during construction, with only one block of classrooms demolished to make way for a new access road.

Councillor Buckley estimates repairs to the existing sports block would save around £1 million while extra costs for temporary accommodation, a new road, demolition and a retaining wall would amount to £570,000.

At a packed meeting, Saddleworth Parish Council voted in favour of submitting the plans to Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon and Saddleworth School head teacher Matthew Milburn.

Councillor Buckley said: “The cost of developing the site at Diggle would come to a lot more than this. We need to work positively and see what we can do to get a new school for Saddleworth on the existing site.”

Parish council chairman Graham Sheldon added: “This is going to affect our children and grandchildren for many years to come. We have got to get it right.”

More than 60 locals attended the meeting and Diggle resident Melanie Koen, who spoke on behalf of the Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG), revealed support has come from across the community.

“Businesses in Uppermill are contacting us, fearful of the economic consequences of the school leaving its traditional location,” she said.

“We are not protesting against the school being built. We are merely asking questions as to why the existing site cannot be used and why Diggle is the only cost-effective option.

“SDAG has been working co-operatively with the school and Debbie Abrahams, our MP, to find a way forward that doesn’t ruin the fragile heritage of Saddleworth but gets a good modern school for all our children.”

But some councillors urged residents to think carefully about pushing to stay at the current site in case the Education Funding Agency (EFA) rejected the plans.

Councillor Robert McCann said: “If we cannot give the EFA a suitable site then the children of Saddleworth could end up with nothing.

“What would people think about 300 or 400 houses being built in Diggle instead? We have to think about the knock-on consequences.”

Saddleworth School head Matthew Milburn and councillors will be attending the Diggle Community Association meeting at the village band club tonight, at 8pm, to discuss the new school proposals.
For a full version of this story read the Chronicle in print or via the digital iChron and eChron editions on mobile and laptop.