'Disappointment' over Court's school ruling

Councillor Chadderton

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DIGGLE still represents "the most viable site" for rebuilding Saddleworth School, according to Oldham Council's Cabinet Member for Education, despite a High Court ruling that plans for the move were unlawful.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton said she has met with representatives of Saddleworth School, including the headteacher and chairman of governors, to reassure them of the council's commitment to rebuilding the school.

Save Diggle Action Group took the case to the Royal Courts of Justice, which ruled that the council's planning committee had "never addressed" the potential harm to heritage assets.

Councillor Chadderton, Cabinet member for Education and Early Years, said: "It was with immense disappointment that I learned that Oldham Council lost the review on two of the nine challenges, and I remain of the opinion that Diggle still represents the most viable site for rebuilding Saddleworth School.

"In spite of the ruling, I wanted to reassure all Saddleworth children and families that Oldham Council remains absolutely committed to rebuilding Saddleworth School."

She added that the council had set out ambitions for education in the borough and has invested £1million into Oldham Education and Skills Commission.

She said: "We want to see an improvement in our outcomes at all stages and an improvement in our Ofsted ratings.

"But we also recognise children deserve the right to be taught in buildings that are fit for 2017 and a walk round Saddleworth School quickly demonstrates the depth of physical improvement required at the school.

"Oldham Council's number one priority, throughout the too many years this has gone on, has always been the current and future pupils of Saddleworth School.

"This is clearly not true of all parties, but it is Saddleworth children that this judgement will have the biggest detrimental effect on.

"Rebuilding Saddleworth School remains a key priority for Oldham Council.

"We want all children to be taught in a school that is fit for the modern day to allow them the very best chances to succeed."

As a result of the court judgement, planning permission approved in 2016 for Saddleworth School at the Diggle site has been quashed and the council must submit a new application.