New school will be built in Diggle

Saddleworth School’s new site in Diggle

IT’S now official: Saddleworth School will move to Diggle.

Oldham Council’s cabinet members last night formally approved the 18-acre WH Shaw Pallet Works site as the new home for the school, which could be open by spring 2017.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton said: “This has been a long and hard but undoubtedly necessary road we had to go down. I don’t think anyone disputes that the current school is not fit for purpose.

“The feasibility study made a clear recommendation. We appreciate the depth of feeling this has created and we have listened to all concerns.

“We will work with the local community to make the new school aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with the area. Building a new school is an education issue and the decision was made on what best suits the pupils.”

The palletworks site was chosen as the preferred option following assessment of various cost and educational factors.

Oldham Council will provide just over £2 million to fund fixtures and fittings, ICT equipment, an upgrade to the football pitch, fencing, footpath and carriageway widening, improvements to residents’ parking, demolition of current buildings and the relocation of a telecoms mast.

The new school will be able to take 150 more pupils, taking capacity to 1,500. Greenbelt land will be used only for sports pitches, which will also be available for community use.

The Save Diggle Action Group, some Diggle residents and some parents ofchildren at the school have been against the school moving to Diggle from the start of the process and lodged their concerns during the consultation process.