Saddleworth School: definitely on the move

THE current Saddleworth School, Uppermill

OLDHAM COUNCIL: Councillors have unanimously supported a plan to build a new Saddleworth school on a site AWAY from the present site in Uppermill

Saddleworth will receive £17 million from the Education Funding Agency for a new school, and opinion has been divided whether it should be on the current site or at the former Shaw’s Pallet Works, in Diggle.

Councillors last night agreed the current site is too cramped, on split levels and that there would be big problems continuing school operations while building work took place.

Councillor John Battye said: “The parents, governors and teachers would be apoplectic if they were part of a building site for two years. Let’s knock on the head once and for all we are going to build on the current site, because we are not.”

Cross-party support was also given to a proposal to lobby the Government for money to replace Royton and Crompton School and upgrade others.

Plans to rebuild or refurbish Saddleworth, Royton and Crompton, Hathershaw, Blue Coat and Crompton House schools fell through when the new Coalition Government axed the Building Schools for the Future scheme.