RC school project ‘handled ineptly’

PROTESTERS have complained to the Audit Commission about the alleged unprofessional handling of proposals for Oldham’s £30 million new Catholic high school.

They have done so after discovering that no minutes were taken of meetings between the council and Salford Diocese to discuss the plans.

This comes two weeks after it emerged that the Bishop of Salford, the Rt Rev Terence Brain, admitted that records of consultation meetings with parents were shredded because some responses were racist.

The merger of St Augustine’s and Our Lady’s schools is part of Oldham’s £230 million Building Schools for the Future proposals.

However, Oldham Catholic Schools Parents’ Association, (OCSPA) is opposed to building the school on a site next to Oldham Way.

The group made a Freedom of Information request to both the council and the diocese for a copy of the minutes of meetings between the two.

However, the council revealed that no minutes were taken because they were informal discussions.

The letter to the Audit Commission states: “OCSPA is appalled that a matter of such importance has been treated so lightly.

“It would appear that everything has been done on an ad-hoc basis. This is not the approach we would expect.

“How can the the director for Catholic education, Martin Lochery; Oldham Council’s director of children, young people and families, Janet Donaldson; and the head for the BSF programme, Alun Francis; justify their totally unprofessional, inept conduct.”

OCSPA chairman Tony Campbell said they were not alleging a cover-up but added: “We are saying this is not the way to proceed for something of this magnitude.”

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “I have been told quite clearly that it is the bishop’s decision, and it is the bishop and the diocese who control all of the consultation.”

Mr Lochery, diocesan director of education, said OCSPA was entitled to its views.

He explained that regular, informal meetings were held to take things forward and major meetings would be minuted.