COUNCILLORS AND governors are pushing for answers from the Education Funding Agency in the ongoing debate for a new £17million secondary school in Saddleworth.
The EFA is carrying out a feasibility study of both the current location in Uppermill and a site on Huddersfield Road in Diggle as possible spots for a new 1,500-pupil school.
Governors from Saddleworth School have sent a letter to the EFA with a list of ‘significant issues’ they would like the agency to consider before a decision is made.
The issues with the Uppermill site include poor ground conditions, new road to access the building site, providing ten large, temporary, disabled-accessible classrooms for two years and several months without a sports hall.
They would like to see Flood Risk Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments for both sides and also raised issues with vehicular access, parking, pedestrian access and an off-road bus turnaround.
Five independent councillors – Nikki Kirkham, Rob Knotts, Mike Buckley, Lesley Brown and Lesley Schofield – have also compiled a list of questions to put to the government agency when they meet them in the near future.
Cllr Buckley, said: “I am really pleased they have agreed to have a meeting with us.
“It will let us put forward our questions about the practicalities of the Uppermill site, which we haven’t been able to do fully yet. It is really positive they have agreed to look at both sites.”
Meanwhile, Saddleworth Liberal Democrats have pledged to “accept whichever location comes out on top in the EFA’s new appraisal” for a new school.
This has been echoed by the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership as chair Cllr Val Sedgwick said the group will stand by the agency’s decision to make sure the build goes ahead.
“If we lose this money and the school, the children could be farmed out across Oldham,” she said. “We welcome the EFA’s decision to look at both sites and we will go with their decision.”
Cllr Brian Lord, chair of Saddleworth School Governors, added in a letter: “I appeal to all Saddleworth residents to get behind us once the final choice is made.
“I don’t envy those who have to make the decision let’s not forget we need a new school to help educate our young people. Let’s not lose the chance by squabbling over its site.”
But Cllr Buckley, who also represents the Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG), insisted the independent councillors will fight as long as they can to protect the Diggle site in the interests of Saddleworth people.
He said: “The green belt is of no concern to the EFA. The recreational and heritage value of the canal and the Diggle flight will meet with no sympathy.
“There has to be total and unequivocal openness, honesty and complete transparency in the two studies.
“Most importantly, the views of pupils, parents and residents need to be sought and considered at an early stage.”
In opposition to a new school in Diggle, members of SDAG have erected a huge banner in the village and their petition has acquired more than 2,500 signatures.
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