'Education is compromised by delaying the new school'

PROPOSED Saddleworth School for the Shaw pallet works site, Diggle.

SADDLEWORTH residents and groups have had their say after news that the judicial hearing review into the building of the new £19.2million Saddleworth School in Diggle will not take place until next year.

The Chronicle revealed yesterday that a two-day hearing has been set before a High Court planning judge for Monday, January 23.

Keith Prior, spokesman for Diggle 4 Saddleworth School (D4SS), said: "We note the date of the Judicial Review and are again dismayed that the education of Saddleworth children is being compromised by this delay.

"It is clear an increasing number of Saddleworth residents and parents are aligning to the D4SS point of view in wanting the best possible educational facilities for the children of Saddleworth at a new school in Diggle."

However, Save Diggle Action Group, who were successful last month in seeking judicial review of the decision to move the school from Uppermill to a new site in Diggle, argued their campaign was never about delaying or preventing construction of a new school and instead focused on the location.

Keith Lucas, of SDAG, said: "A judge has now heard the arguments and feels that there is sufficient evidence to allow a full Judicial Review hearing.

"It should be noted that success at this first stage of an application for Judicial Review isn't common or easy, the judgements demonstrates that Oldham Council have serious questions to answer about their handling of this entire process.

"This has been very costly for SDAG in time, effort and money but we have had to take the route of legal action because we could find no other way to receive a fair and just hearing."

He added that the committee and supporters have serious concerns about the proposed road scheme for Diggle and the impact moving the new school it will have on the area, including the affect on a listed building and the Saddleworth landscape.