A ROUSING cheer from excited youngsters greeted news of a long awaited green light for the re-development of Greenfield Primary School.
-
Greenfield Primary School
But the decision by Oldham Council’s planning committee has received the thumbs down from opponents pushing for the new school to be built at another village location.
Parish councillor Neil Allsopp described the meeting on Wednesday, February 21 as a “fiasco” and accused Saddleworth based OMBC councillors John McCann and Steve Hewitt of “undermining” the case.
However, after years of delays, a new school will finally rise from the current playing fields within 18 months. The current Shaw Street site will become the replacement playing fields.
Delighted head teacher Mike Wood told the Independent he hopes the first two-form entry intake will arrive in September 2019.
And he stressed the multi-million-pound building would be available for use by all the community.
“It will be a massive boost for the area but it will allow us to provide an outstanding education for more children for many years in a modern, up-to-date environment,” he said.
“With new facilities it means we will go from strength to strength.”
Despite set-backs and a decision last November by Saddleworth Parish Council to reject the plans, Mr Wood said he was optimistic there would be no final hitch at last month’s OMBC planning meeting.
“I was quite calm,” he insisted. “But the children and staff were so excited next day.
“There was so much going on I thought I better talk about it in assembly. So, we discussed it and the children ended up giving a big cheer.”
Greenfield Primary received an “outstanding” Ofsted inspection in 2014 despite the dilapidated 110-year-old premises.
“I am not sure when building will start but I am hoping to move in next summer after the SATs,” added Mr Wood.
“I wouldn’t want to disrupt the children before then because they will be so excited it would be a big distraction.
“But, as I understand it, it could take seven years to fill up because we are only going to take 30 more children a year.”
Opposition groups have complained the new school, which is set to double in size from 210 to 420 pupils plus the introduction of 40 extra nursery places, will create increased traffic and safety risks in an area that has flooded in recent years.
“I can understand if you have property close to the school you would have worries,” conceded Mr Wood.
“People didn’t want Tesco but I am guessing people who didn’t want it do their shopping there now.
“The only thing that is permanent is change.”
Cllr Neil Allsopp had previously voiced his support for a new school but wanted OMBC to explore an alternative site at the end of Wellington Road, adjacent to the current Satellite Centre, and supported by Saddleworth Parish Council.
“The Planning Meeting at Oldham was a total fiasco,” said Cllr Allsopp.
“The recommendation from the Parish Council’s Planning Committee was misrepresented.
“We asked for an objective review of the site at the end of Wellington Road.
“But our case was undermined by Cllr John McCann and Cllr Steve Hewitt, stating the site was on Churchill Playing Fields and the Parish Council were somehow wrong to suggest a review of the site.
“As I was the councillor who first suggested a review of this site, I would have expected them to have contacted me to explain in more detail. Neither of them bothered.
“We now have to live with the consequences of their decision and hope our worst fears aren’t realised.”
Campaigner Mike Rooke added: “None of us were against building a new school the same size as the present one.
“The old building is in a dreadful state.
“But this decision means that a two-form entry building will be erected on a very small field site, cheek by jowl to residential properties.
“Apart from Steve Hewitt (Springhead), Saddleworth Parish Council Planning Committee unanimously voted to reject this proposal. Unfortunately, this local opinion was rejected.
“In this context and given the devastating consequences for Greenfield village, it was unforgivable for our Saddleworth South Ward Councillors, John Hudson and John McCann to support this proposal.”
Cllr McCann responded: “At the planning meeting it was made clear that Cllr Allsopp’s notion that the Churchill playing fields were a possible alternative site showed he is clueless about the fact it is a Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Playing Field in Perpetuity so cannot be used for building – plus of course it is a major flood plain site.”
He added: “82 percent of the pupils come from within 1 kilometre of the school.
“There will be a pedestrian crossing on Chew Valley Road near Shaw Street as part of the school safety/traffic plan.
“Saddleworth schools are full so we need this increase in capacity. I have in the past helped local parents try to gain admittance to Shaw Street as they were advised it was full.
“The site of the current building will become a ‘playing field’ which will be far better than the current rough field in use.”
