Majority support school expansion

THE exsisting Greenfield Primary School

THE PROPOSED expansion of Greenfield C P School received a 69 per cent backing during a recent pre-publication consultation.

Representations included views of the school, parents, the local community and other interested parties with many opinions saying that the current building was in a poor condition and needed repairs.

The pre-publication consultation saw Oldham Council receive 84 written responses with 58 in favour of the expansion and 26 opposed.

Cabinet members last night agreed for the next phase of the consultation process to commence and will launch a five-week formal consultation period after which a final decision will be made.

The proposal will see a total rebuild of Greenfield C P and expand their intake from one form entry to two, increasing its PAN from 30 to 60.

Those represented in the pre-publication consultation who approved plans felt the school was overcrowded and that expansion would bring about better facilities in terms of learning, SEN provision and outdoor space.

Greenfield C P is one of three 'outstanding' schools in Saddleworth/Lees and is the most oversubscribed of the three schools.

The proposal to expand and rebuild the school comes after increased demand on school places in Saddleworth/Lees as a result of an increasing birth rate, new housing developments in the area and more families moving into the area.

It is estimated by the Department for Education that there will be an additional 223 primary aged children in the area by 2020.

However, the main concerns raised by those who oppose the expansion revolved around increased traffic and difficulties in parking and gaining access to the site.