School costs bid rejected

A parish councillor has hit a setback in his bid to stop the construction of the new Saddleworth School in Diggle

Mike Buckley failed to get Saddleworth Parish Council to ask for more details of the £17m cost of relocating Saddleworth School to Huddersfield Road, Diggle, and an alternative of rebuilding on the current Uppermill site. The proposal was defeated 8-5 at the parish council meeting.

Councillor Buckley wanted the Government body — the Education Funding Authority — to produce the costings to allow a comparison between the sites.

But a statement from Councillor Brian Lord, chairman of the school governors, read in his absence, said: “We have already been told it would not be financially viable to build the new school in Uppermill.

“It would be a waste of taxpayers’ money as they have no intention of building it there.

“This council should work with the school, local authority and residents to plan the best school for the community and children.”