Academy survives last-minute scare

GO-AHEAD . . . what Waterhead Academy will look like

Oldham Planning Committee
WATERHEAD Academy escaped a last-ditch bid to thwart the state-of-the-art development.

The new school already had outline planning permission and approval was given last night for reserved matters — access, appearance, layout, scale and landscaping.

As the Chronicle reported, Saddleworth Parish Council recommended that consent be refused for the new five-star school, due to open on the site of the former Orb Mill in Culvert Street in 2012.

They said the size of the development was inappropriate for the site and argued that increased traffic would cause havoc on already busy roads.

They were backed by 34 letters of objection, with flood-risk concerns, increased anti-social behaviour and a detrimental impact on residential amenity also cited.

Angry local residents had protested against the multi-million-pound project when it was first announced that one academy would replace Breeze Hill and Counthill schools.

But planning officers recommended approval, saying the risk of flooding was low, the building will have no greater visual impact than the mill and while there will be increased activity it will be mainly during opening and closing times.

They said it had been well-designed, adding it’s “a modern, attractive scheme that will significantly enhance the character and appearance of the surrounding area.”

There will be indoor and outdoor sporting provision, available to the community, including a sports hall, fitness and activity studio, floodlit artificial pitch, games area and hard surface areas for football, netball and tennis. The main car park will provide 138 spaces with 110 spaces for bicycles and there will be a bus drop-off point.

Residents attending the meeting said they were very concerned over noise and light pollution in the evening and called for restrictions between 6pm and 7.30am.

Councillors were mostly concerned with traffic problems and highway safety.

Councillor Steve Bashforth said it was one of the busiest roads in the borough, adding: “The school itself is great, it’s a fantastic facility. But we can’t spoil a facility like this by not making it safe for road users and pedestrians.”

Councillor Mike Buckley said: “I’m concerned we don’t have a detailed plan nailed down on the safety issue and I think it may lead to mayhem.”

New head of planning, Jameson Bridgewater, said officers will ensure the scheme is safe for children and users of the highway.

Robert Hopkins, for the applicant, said parking underneath the building would pull cars away from the main road.

Permission was also granted for part of the land to be turned into a public plaza and habitat area.