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Letters should be sent to: The Village Voice, The Saddleworth Independent, 5 Kinders Crescent, Greenfield, Saddleworth OL3 7JQ or emailed to aimee@saddind.co.uk
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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)
UNTIL I married, I was known as Brenda Wheeldon and had lived in Greenfield all my life, attending secondary school in Uppermill before going to work at Robert Fletchers in Greenfield Mill.
I met my future husband at a dance in The Mechanics Institute in Uppermill in 1955. It is now called The Civic Hall and, a couple of weeks ago, we made our way up from where we now live in the south of England to attend a concert there.
The singer was called Lloyd Cole and I don’t suppose very many of the audience will have realised that his mother was a local girl – me.
So, I’m writing to thank each and every of them for contributing towards what was one of the best nights of my life. The atmosphere was wonderful and I felt as though they had taken him to their hearts. I would also like to thank The Waggon Inn for their hospitality during our visit. Thank you all.
Brenda Cole (by email)
A WELL-DESERVED word of praise for two officials from First Bus who swiftly moved in after a dog had defected in the stairwell of a bus in Uppermill Square at the start of the Rushcart Festival.
They produced disinfectant, mop and bucket and the bus was ready for service again in a few minutes. Well done from a service that sometime gets unfair criticism from the public.
Bus-lover, Dobcross (By email)
I RECENTLY enjoyed a visit to Oldham’s excellent library and gallery. They are a fantastic facility, all the more so in that they are free.
Unfortunately the car parking leaves something to be desired. Some time ago when the library was relatively new the nearby Southgate Street car park had parking charges even for extremely short stays and consequently was often empty.
The car park at Sainsbury’s was regularly full as people risked a £60 fine for overstaying.
Now as you enter Southgate Street a sign proudly displays that Saturday and Sunday have been freed from charges – however you must carefully read the small print below which states that parking is free for three hours and only when you display a ticket. To make matters worse this sign is partially hidden behind the pay machine.
You will have realised by now that I have been fined for not displaying a ticket on a free car park – the kind of absurdity which along with the now maze-like street plan in the town centre mean I will not be entering Oldham again for some time.
Out of pocket (by email)
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