'No room for future expansion in Uppermill'

Saddleworth School

THE group pressing for the much-vaunted new secondary school to be built in Diggle is worried Saddleworth could have no school at all.

Diggle For Saddleworth School (D4SS) are urging Oldham Council to listen to concerns of staff, children, parents, and interested members of the local community, who believe Diggle is still the best site for the new £19.2 million school.

The group have issued a statement on social media after claims by Save Diggle Action Group (SDAG) it is more financially viable to reconsider Uppermill as a potential site for the new school.

In their response, D4SS say if the school were to be built in Uppermill the £2.5 million Oldham was to get from the land swap would be lost.

"This money was earmarked for highway works and some was to be given to the school to pay for materials above and beyond the EFAs basic school specification.

"The figures are in the EFA feasibility report gave an approximate budget from the outset of £19.3m. Final estimates costs were ­- Uppermill playing field site £20.7m as opposed to Diggle ­- £18.5m.

"The costs incurred so far in the design of the present school in Diggle - possibly millions - will be money lost.

"If plans were submitted for the school to be built on the present site there may be considerable opposition from residents there.

"The school would only have one narrow pupil/vehicle entrance from a narrow heavily used road with very narrow footways ­- unbelievably worse than that on offer in Diggle.

"The pavements in Uppermill are worse and more dangerous than the planned improved pavements in Diggle."

They argue a new school at Uppermill would still be compromised in its design due to the topography.

"Levels are difficult which would mean lots of steps within the school building. The design would not be as efficient or work as well for teaching as the school on the larger, flatter Diggle site.

"There is no room for future expansion in Uppermill," they declare.