UPDATE: The application for a new Greenfield Primary School has been temporarily withdrawn while some amendments are made by the applicant.
An Oldham Council spokesman said: “The application has been withdrawn with a resubmission expected soon. The applicant is making changes to the design.”
CONCERNED RESIDENTS have accused Oldham Council of a lack of transparency over plans for another new school in Saddleworth.
Crumbling Greenfield Primary will be demolished and a new two-form entry school built – subject to planning permission – as part of a growing borough-wide demand for pupil places.
Parents and locals accept the existing premises on Shaw Street, which is believed to be more than 100 years old, are not fit for purpose.
Some, however, have questioned the need for two-form entry, suggesting extra places could be found at the Academy status St Chad’s Church of England School in Uppermill.
A public meeting heard speakers debate a range of related issues from traffic congestion, lack of parking, road safety fears, including a derided ‘Park and Stride’ scheme from Tescos on Chew Valley Road, plus design of the new building.
Community campaigner Mike Rooke called the lack of consultation “contemptuous” and added: “They (OMBC) did it as quick as they possibly could and without any sense of responsibility to the neighbourhood.
“The facts of how they made this decision need to be brought out. The Council had a choice whether to spend a lot of money on a local authority school and not to pursue an ideological line but to support the Academy which is doing really well and where they could have extended it by another 20 students.”
Mr Rooke revealed an application to English Heritage will be made to get the school historically listed.
Carrie Sutton, Oldham’s Director of Education and Early Years, was criticised for failing to provide details of the geographical catchment area of the present school asked for at an initial meeting with campaigners on January 28.
Residents Jake Ashworth and Joan Harthan, who attended the January meeting with Mr Rooke, said Ms Sutton “specifically refused” requests for the talks to be taped.
Mr Rooke has since confirmed an email was received from Ms Sutton two days after the latest public meeting promising to chase up the information.
The Council also responded to worries that details of the official planning application submitted on February 3 were only posted on the Council website three weeks later.
“We’re still undertaking a validating process,” said a spokesperson. “Once this process has been completed a public consultation would expect to begin. Until this is done we won’t know any further key dates.
“Following on from whether Ms Sutton has been in contact with the residents who have concerns, she made contact with Mr Rooke that she will be in touch with more details very soon.
“I would like to stress the council has a statutory duty to provide more primary school places in the borough.
“A budget provision of £13.5 million was made available in March 2014. This included the proposed new build for Greenfield Primary School. There has already been increased places in Denshaw, Dobcross and Lees.”
Subject to approval the new school building could be completed for September 2017, boosting pupil intake from 30 a year to 60 per year.
I went to the Residents Meeting thinking it would be about transport and state of the highway discussion. From the start it was a discussion on how we could slow the process of building a new school & presumed that everyone was against a new school. Mike Rooke even revealed that he had been in touch with Mike Buckley about English Heritage making the old school listed. In my opinion Mike Buckley should not be allowed to have any interest in schools especially Primary schools. I am surprised that your Reporter failed to mention this. It seems to me that the same people involved in SDAG are now behind Greenfield School.
Pamela if this was the meeting held at Boars Hurst band club Then I can confirm that Mike Buckley was not there!
A Choice of one is not a choice! I’m for an improved school in Greenfield, but not one that is rushed through, If you read through the planning application it’s farsical. I wouldn’t expect anything more with Oldham Councils record, Waterhead Academy is prime example! How long will this new school last I can guarantee it won’t be 100 years