THE PUBLIC are invited to give their views on plans for the proposed new Saddleworth School as designs for the development have been revealed.
Construction company, Interserve Construction Ltd, have been appointed to design and build the new school on the former WH Shaw pallet works site in Diggle, subject to planning permission.
The site was named as the preferred location in the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) 84-page report earlier this year and backed by Oldham Council as the best opportunity for the new £19million school.
Now, locals are invited to have their say on the details of the development during a public consultation period from May 26 to June 23.
During that time the project team, led by Interserve, are running a series of drop-in public exhibitions where residents can view the plans, ask questions and discuss the proposals with the team.
The dates of the exhibitions are:
- Wednesday, June 3: 15.30-19.30 at The Satellite Centre, Wellington Road, Greenfield, Oldham, OL3 7AL
- Monday, June 8: 15.30-19.30 at St Chad’s Church, Lee Side, Kiln Green, Diggle, OL3 5JY
- Thursday, June 11: 16.00-19.30 at Saddleworth School, High Street, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6BU
Oldham Council will also be at these events presenting a series of options under consideration for local highway upgrade works to facilitate the operation of the new school.
Alongside these exhibitions, a dedicated website has been established which provides the same information available at the exhibitions.
Feedback from the consultation – which is designed to focus on the development not the location of the school – can be submitted online via the website or as written feedback at the exhibitions.
All feedback received will be reviewed and, where the project team feel amendments could and should be made, such changes will be incorporated into the design.
Then a planning application, supported by technical documents, will be submitted to Oldham Council, seeking to gain consent for the construction of a new school for 1,500 pupils aged 11 to 16.
It is hoped that the new school will be open for Autumn 2017.
Saddleworth School has been identified as one of the schools in the worst physical condition in the country and has secured funding from the EFA, under the Priority School Building Programme, to build the new school.
For full details of the plans and to provide feedback, please visit: newsaddleworthschool.co.uk
