SADDLEWORTH SCHOOL’s headteacher has promised to help deliver the best new school for his pupils – despite the location remaining under debate.
Saddleworth Parish Council has submitted a proposal to Oldham Council for the Education Funding Agency to rebuild the secondary school on the current Uppermill site while officers also consider a move to Diggle.
And head Matthew Milburn told around 80 people at the Diggle Community Association’s open meeting that the pupils are his motivation whichever location is chosen.
“My sole desire is to create a great school for our children and this community,” he said. “I do not mind if it is in Uppermill or in Diggle as all we need is a cracking school.
“If the decision is Uppermill then I will bend over backward to make that happen. But it has to stack up and if it doesn’t then we have to work on the Diggle site.
“I will admit it is easier if it is away from the current school due to health and safety but if that is the best place for it then I will do everything I can to get the best school there.
“Nothing is insolvable. I would ask that people come together if it is a viable site in Uppermill and also if it isn’t. Let’s not get into entrenched positions against each other.”
Over recent weeks worried locals formed a ‘Save Diggle Action Group’ while Saddleworth Parish Council voted to support residents in their campaign to keep the school in Uppermill.
Concerns about the potential Diggle site include narrow footpaths, environmental impact, destroying greenbelt area, poor sewerage systems and traffic on Huddersfield Road.
One resident declared: “The plans are totally out of keeping with a Pennine village. It is outright vandalism on the area.”
Another added: “The ‘stop sign’ at the village entrance comes on when it snows – what are buses going to do then? We want a good school but not if it means children are put at risk.”
But Councillor Brian Lord, chair of Saddleworth School governors for seven years, backed Mr Milburn’s plea for support as he revealed the current site is plagued by major issues.
“There is a temporary fire system in place under the understanding there will be a new school. It would cost £1.8 million to replace and that’s money the school can only dream of,” he said.
“The proposal has gone to Oldham officers and engineers, who will make the decision, but if they come back and said no then it will have to be a built in Diggle or nowhere.
“Saddleworth had lost out on a new school before and it can’t happen again. We will work with local people and use their knowledge to get the best we can from the money available to us.”
Cllr Mike Buckley, who put forward the plans for redeveloping the Uppermill site, insisted building on the existing brownfield should take precedent over moving to greenfield.
He added: “There would be some disruption – that is inevitable. But the plan for the school itself is exactly the same as what has been suggested for Diggle.
“We were very surprised to learn that Unity Partnership has not been approached to do a traffic analysis yet at Diggle. This needs to be done.”
SDAG carried out an unofficial traffic survey on Huddersfield Road and found around 550 vehicles pass through during peak hour – nearing its maximum already.
Speaking on behalf of SDAG, Diggle resident Melanie Koen, 33, said: “We are not protesting against the school being built. We are merely asking questions as to why the existing site cannot be used.
“Diggle has village status and would be unable to cope with all the students and staff.
“If the cost at Diggle far outweighs the costs at the current site then this cannot be the only viable option.”
Stuart Coleman, chair of the DCA, added: “We need a new school but we need a decent Saddleworth as well.”
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