New school’s opponents to stage protest march

PROPOSED Saddleworth School for the Shaw pallet works site, Diggle.

AN action group is urging people to take to the streets in a mass march against the choice of site for a new £19.2 million school.

Keith Lucas, leader of Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG), wants families to join the march on Saturday from Uppermill to the planned entrance of the new school in Diggle.

Mr Lucas says the walk — five days before Oldham makes a final decision over the school — will highlight access problems at Huddersfield Road.

Controversy has raged about safety and traffic in Diggle once a school is built.

Mr Lucas said: “Saturday’s march is to highlight the absurdity of Saddleworth Parish Council recommending ‘severe refusal’ of the proposed highway plans but approving the new school in Diggle.

“It’s our way of publicly highlighting how can Oldham Council pass a planning application for a new school when they still don’t have a rational plan for getting pupils and staff to its location.”

Mr Lucas said more than 3,000 people had signed SDAG’s petition to keep the new school in Uppermill and more than 650 had sent objections to Oldham council ahead of next week’s final decision meeting.

“We need as many people as possible, and we will be walking safely along footpaths not on the road. We want to demonstrate how preposterous the road plans are.”

The marchers will assemble at King George V playing fields in Uppermill and the march begins at 11am.