Saddleworth’s new school ‘must not be put at risk’ say Liberal Democrat councillors
Cllr Garth Harkness (left)
Following the cabinet meeting of Oldham council on Monday 21 July 2014 the Liberal Democrat Saddleworth councillors are delighted that Oldham council are obtaining options for the site at the back of the Shaw Pallets works in Diggle, where the old factory is, so it can be reviewed as a possible site for a new school. The previous professional opinions were that it was not possible to use the old Uppermill site for the new school.
The Education Funding Agency are looking at all options on the Diggle and Uppermill sites. If, as before, the Uppermill options continue to be discounted then the best alternative seems to be the Shaw Pallets works at the back of the site already occupied by the old derelict factory. This option is one that we have consistently tried to achieve in the absence of the possibility of acceptance of other sites.
We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Education Funding Agency and we will be asking the people of Saddleworth what they think on the matter. More information will be provided shortly.
A major factor of course, will be that there will be no buildings on the greenbelt. The site itself will be larger than that at the front.
We would welcome a guarantee from Oldham council that any financial surplus from the land swap between Diggle and Uppermill will go towards the new school and ancillary works such as roads is welcomed.
Liberal Democrat councillors reiterate our pledge to support the building of a new school in Saddleworth whichever site is chosen by the EFA as financially and technically possible.
Saddleworth Lib Dem Cllrs: Garth Harkness, Derek Heffernan, John McCann, Val Sedgwick.
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate: Richard Marbrow.
Contact: Garth Harkness 07762 637350
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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I wish the Lib Dems would get their facts straight.
First, no one has ever said that the school could not be built on the existing site in Uppermill. Information from the EFA has confirmed it has always been an option.
The development of the green belt for playing fields will go ahead as before, the only difference being the replacement of the sports block with a playing area.
There will be no financial surplus from the land swap, all the capital receipt will be eaten up by the cost of the extra land being purchased at Diggle. OMBC have said they will have to put money in. Probably several million pounds, money that could be spent on improving the new school facilities if it were built at Uppermill.
The EFA have already once rejected the option to built at the back of the Diggle site as too costly. Debbie Abrahams met with the school’s minister to ask for extra funds to be made available to do this back last Autumn. Her request was refused.
Nevertheless, the Lib Dems planned meeting with the EFA is welcomed, it seems they have now turned over a new leaf in trying to ascertain the facts. A damascine change for them instead of relying simply on hearsay, rumour and pub conversations which seems to be the way they have formulated policy to date.
Great news they are going to ask the people of Saddleworth what they think of building the school in Diggle. I would have thought though by now they would have known the answer.
You want to ask the people of Saddleworth what they think? Did they not tell you quite emphatically at the ballot box recently?
Maybe Mr Buckley needs to get his facts right! Maybe he can also stop mixing up greenfield and greenbelt and tell people the truth It’s a school with better access or houses without better access. He also can’t possibly know the financial negotiations with the land owner so he can’t say if there is a surplus. They have also previously rejected the Uppermill site under the BSF scheme- which was more money so how it is going to be viable now is questionable. He continues to ignore that people have said if it still can be built in Uppermill safely etc. then fine but he won’t answer if the EFA say the only site is Diggle or nothing will he support a new school (as he did in the past)
Nikki Kirkham received 1147 votes. The Lib-Dems as a party are in freefall. Hardly an emphatic mandate to not build in Diggle. Please do not assume that the rest of Saddleworth agrees with the Save Diggle campaign. The parents of Springhead, Scouthead, Greenfield, Uppermill, Delph, Denshaw, Lydgate, Austerlands, Grasscroft, Friezland, Dobcross etc etc and quite a few in Diggle want a top class education facility that is built safely. This is IMPLAUSIBLE on the current Saddleworth School site. The fact that it has been an ‘option’ does not mean that it was a good or even viable option. To pretend otherwise (Cllr Buckley) is disingenuous. I understand the concerns over the Diggle site. By all means proffer a real viable alternative. No? Didn’t think so.
1147 is a very mediocre number when used as mandate. Nikki Kirkham got the vote purely as a protest. What is she ACTUALLY achieving for Saddleworth? Is she just another of Mike Buckley’s puppets. What will the Independents do without him when he has gone? Fade away.