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THE RECENTLY announced proposal from Oldham Council for a new and better location in Diggle for the re-siting of Saddleworth School alleviates many of the Save Diggle Action Group’s concerns.
The site is set well back off the road, it replaces a derelict factory and the green belt area is now designated for playing fields only. Yet still the SDAG objections persist.
As a newly-appointed governor at the school I have approached the issue in an even-handed manner. But I now struggle to understand the motivation of SDAG. I could understand a campaign to Save Diggle from, say, a nuclear power plant, a refuse dump or a sewage works… but a school?
Our overriding responsibility must be to ensure we get the best scheme possible so the school’s new facilities will enhance its academic achievements and reputation.
I do wonder whether SDAG has ever considered the effect of its campaign on the children. That a group of adults would keep up a sustained and bitter fight to stop them, their friends and their school from relocating in Diggle must be both bewildering and demoralising.
The proposals are now with the Education Funding Agency. Whichever one they decide upon let’s hope all those concerned can accept their decision and that the exciting prospect of having a new school can obliterate the protracted wrangling of the last few months.
Chris Foley (by email)
THIS PICTURE of an overgrown and bedraggled grassy area next to the Civic Hall car park in Uppermill was sent in a by a disgruntled reader.
The reader commented: “It’s overgrown like this every year and when I ask in the office why, they said they’re waiting for parts to mower. What a bad impression for the Council.”
AS ANOTHER school year at Saddleworth closes I urge all concerned to come to a speedy resolution to the whereabouts of the new build. The pupils and teachers have been in limbo long enough.
The present school is not fit for purpose and the longer it takes to resolve the location the worse the situation becomes.
The education and safety of pupils should be paramount.
However, I am at a loss to see how the children’s safety can be assured if the present site is selected for the new build. Construction sites can be notoriously dangerous and trying to keep the school running amid the noise and potential hazards, would, I suggest, be nigh on impossible.
Whichever site is finally selected I would hope everyone will get behind it and provide Saddleworth children with the new school they deserve.
Karen Brooks, Former teacher, parent of ex Saddleworth pupil and school governor (by email)
THE RECENT comments from Sadleworth Independents relating to Saddleworh School is a disappointment. In light of looking at the other option in Diggle will they support a new school or not?
They say the decision should not be left in the hands of the experts? Interesting but the fact is that it is.
There are many schools that need rebuilding. Saddleworth lost out last time and the EFA will decide. We either accept their findings or say no thanks we do not want a new school.
The consequence being pupils carry on in a mismatch of dilapidated buildings and an inevitable closure shortly afterwards.
Well done to the District Executive in Saddleworth and the Lib Dems for supporting a new school. Sadly the ‘Independents’ do not see a new school as the prime importance. New School Please
Jade, Delph (by email)
I HAVE not yet been able to test the wonderful 9.57pm train from Victoria but on Saturday, July 19 I do not think we would have been able to catch it as our concert finished just before 9.45pm and there was a ten minute wait for the tram – so it was just as well we had made arrangements to be collected in Oldham.
If this seems to prove my experiment with buses and trams the sad truth is that it doesn’t. When tram schedules are disrupted, Metrolink seems to find it difficult to give the same information at all affected stops.
I think I’m turning into a grumpy old woman.
Ann Webster, by email
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