Diggle Front Option
Diggle Rear Option
Oldham Council approved, at Cabinet on July 21st, proposing an alternative site option for consideration in the project to deliver the new Saddleworth School.
The project to build the new Saddleworth School is being managed by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) on behalf of the Department for Education but Oldham Council are responsible for identifying potential site options and negotiating any necessary legal agreements. This is needed for whichever site is chosen.
The EFA are currently undertaking feasibility studies on four site options – two on the existing Saddleworth School site in Uppermill and the two on the former pallet works in Diggle. One will be selected later this year to take forward to the formal planning process.
In April 2014 the council completed legal agreements, in principle, to potentially buy land at the former WH Shaw Pallet Works in Diggle. This option proposed to site the new school on land at the front of the site, adjacent to Huddersfield Road.
The council has now approved an option to complete legal negotiations to purchase the rear of the site, if it is selected by the EFA.
This option would provide a bigger site of approximately 18 acres in size. It would see industrial buildings cleared to make way for the new school, sports hall and ancillary buildings, and be more sympathetic to the local environment. In this proposal, Green Belt land at the site would still be used for sports pitch provision.
Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “To achieve the best outcome for everyone we know the concerns of local residents have to be balanced with the need to deliver a new school.”
“We’ve listened to the community’s concerns about the earlier Diggle proposals and are proposing a scheme here that would mitigate the potential impact.
“There are still a number of significant issues to deal with but using the rear site addresses the concerns about building structures on the front field.
“This could provide a credible long-term site offering the school a fit-for-purpose educational facility because of its sheer size.
“Another plus would be the demolition of industrial buildings, which are an eyesore.
“The Grade II-listed clocktower building at this site is excluded from the EFA’s options and budget. The council is now prepared to buy and explore grant funding options to enable its restoration as part of the development. This would enable us to bring it back into use in a way which would complement the school.
“The previous Diggle option also proposed siting a sports hall and ancillary buildings on Green Belt land. Those buildings would now be accommodated elsewhere.
“Buying the rear site would mean additional costs for the project. However, as a council we are prepared to contribute towards funding that gap. We also remain 100 per cent committed to the works and associated costs we already know would be required to address people’s concerns about highways, parking and access issues.
“The EFA has been informed of our position. They confirmed they will consider this option as part of their feasibility study which is evaluating all the site options in terms of location, size and suitability. [and cost – Editor]
“They will now undertake the further survey work required to consider this option and hope to report back in September with a decision on which site to take into the formal planning process.”
Independent Councillor Nikki Kirkham said “we have had positive discussions with the EFA in recent months and we met with their senior officers recently in Manchester to discuss the Uppermill options and the difficulties with the Diggle site. It is now clear that the extra costs of building at Diggle will be far in excess of those at Uppermill. The technical and planning difficulties at Diggle are also formidable. I believe the EFA now see the Uppermill options as better value for money.”
Independent Councillor Mike Buckley speaking on behalf of the SDAG said “I can only conclude that the latest attempt by Oldham Council is a panic move to pressurise the EFA to build the school in Diggle. I can’t understand why the Council are so determined to move the school to Diggle when the people of Saddleworth have made it clear that they want the school to stay in Uppermill. The fact we are going to get a new school is not in dispute, nor is the fact that the school can be built in Uppermill. Oldham are now proposing that ratepayers money will be used to ensure the school moves to Diggle. This shows the lengths the Council will go to ignore the wishes of Saddleworth people and to ensure the land swap deal is not derailed.”
Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “Once again I re-state my belief that that the need for a new Saddleworth School fit for our young people in the 21st century is paramount. I am glad that the Government and EFA are undertaking these additional feasibility studies as I requested. Once these are published I will be in a position to consider any new evidence. I welcome the EFA’s move away from the intransigent position it first took when I raised constituents’ concerns.”
Stuart Coleman, Diggle Community Association Chairman said: “It is clear to me that, for whatever reason, OMBC are intent on developing the Diggle site despite the feasibility study on the four proposed sites not being completed yet. Even though this information is vital to making an informed decision, Oldham Council appear to remain set on Diggle. Many residents remain baffled as to why this is and don’t believe this single-minded drive at Diggle can produce a quality outcome because there are so many issues still to be resolved.”
Keith Lucas, member of SDAG said: “SDAG have campaigned tirelessly to get people in official positions to take on board the massive concerns of residents, tourists, educationalists and well wishers to be open and transparent in this controversial planning proposal. I am therefore delighted that OMBC are now realising the genuine concerns and groundswell of opposition to the proposed Saddleworth school rebuild in Diggle.
Simply put, this new option, which I understand had already been rejected, does NOT in any way dismiss any of the high ranking issues prevalent in moving the school to Diggle and thus one has to wonder why OMBC are wasting so much time, effort and money in making the proposal
Neither will it diminish the efforts of the campaign for the school to be rebuilt where it is
The Uppermill option has also been rejected but if the EFA are willing to look again at all options then good stuff. The Independents claimed that the EFA don’t make the decision and then they welcome the fact that the EFA will look again at their decision. They provide the money. There seems a hint of hypocrisy from Nikki Kirkham who is part of the District Executive in Saddleworth who said they would support the deal. There was no report of opposition so has also done a U-Turn and would risk the loss of a new school. It’s simple if you don’t accept the EFA’s decision you don’t get the money. If the back of the new site is the only option will they support it? The alternative is lots of houses and no school.
The plan to user the shaws factory looks a good move (rear option) this was what we originally expected, but with no access road other than excepting roads not sure it will work .
Congratulations to SDAG &those Saddleworth residents who have produced a cohesive response on behalf of Saddleworth residents.
This altenative produced by OMBC is a clear change of direction from a Council who have previously only offered ONE option.
I believe that OMBC have ALWAYS limited themselves to the one ‘front-facing’ school in Diggle. WHY??
Am I being sceptical in thinking that the ‘deal’ was already done when the pallet factory was purchased?
Did OMBC ever consider or consult the residents who will be affected most? No they did not.
I thought that we lived in a democracy, with elected representitives supporting local people.
I am pleased that the EFA will now undertake their study.
Let us see the costings for ALL 4 OPTIONS.
Takes away the industrial area which is good because that is a mess, but Still using GREEN belt land.
why??
Both the brown field sites still free?? Why not use them for your sports field? Or will a developer be building housing there?
Doesn’t solve safety issue of hundreds of children leaving the school and squeezing along a foot path for one person.
Then again they could always walk along the canal i hope they can all swim (with there backpacks full of books on)
Oh I forgot the schools too far away now to walk, let’s see how many buses and cars we can squeeze into the entrance of diggle. Being careful not to hit the children walking along the barely there path.
Congratulations to SDAG? Isn’t Mike Buckley etc. opposing this now! If you remember if it could not be in Uppermill then the back of the Diggle site is what Oldham had always wanted and said many times along with every political party and Ken Hulme’s independents too. This has been the case for years. Very disappointing from “Saddleworth Independents” they said they wanted this site before but now have changed their minds so it is Uppermill or nothing. Clearly the would be happy with large industrial units there which is what will happen. Happy for them to look again at Uppermill but they said it can’t be done and the school are very concerned about using Uppermill too. All this not listening to the experts is nonsense. Well they have the money and it is very sad that some seem to want to spit their dummys out and risk losing a new school. Well done to those who think a school is the most important thing here.
Just a reminder, the Uppermill site has never been rejected and if either of the Diggle options are chosen the destruction of greenbelt (just one of the exceptional issues pending) will still go ahead with playing fields and heaven knows how many more houses – this and all the other issues at the forefront of the campaign against the school being built in Diggle remain and caring saddleworthian’s still find this unacceptable that they will be breached
I have just read a letter in the Chron from the clerk to the governors of the school-hardly un-biased one might say!
The siting of the school in Diggle at the rear simply distances its visual impact from the road but does not address road access.Clearly a fresh road from outside the village entrance is what many objectors regard as key.
Many people I have spoken to object outright because they do not want a large school in their village end of.
Am I missing something – how does the siting of the school at the back of the site resolve the problems of access, traffic, safety etc that are staring everyone apart from OMBC in the face?
Well said, Tim. Who in their right mind wants a school of this magnitude near them? Very few. But the reality is it has to go somewhere but I see the Governors are coming up with the ‘unsuitable ground’ in Uppermill arguments-of course, it must be unsuitable for housing also!
Just how suitable are the Diggle sites-well the one at the rear already is built-on so that must be ok.
But barring the Governing body and the OMBC wheeler dealers the Diggle idea has met with immense opposition locally and to the demise totally of Lib Dem vote.
So I see the rear Diggle site as appeasement in the hope that the opposition campaign will dwindle.
I think that the rear will be chosen-but will the warriors stand firm?
I do not trust the findings of the governors in terms of impartiality-they clearly want the easiest site for themselves not the community as a whole.
The action group is clearly proving to be a threat to them and the OMBC/mystery developers.
As stated above, no one wants the eyesore of the design of school proposed, but clearly it would be better hidden in Uppermill.
Of course people do not want the opportunity of a new school to be lost, but Diggle would be ruined by such a horror construction, particularly if sited at the front.
As the action group has reached this stage it must challenge a siting in Diggle as far as it can go. Do not be swayed by that locally once respected Lib Dem opinion-to my mind they have lost credibility in their approach.They insult residents by their offerings.
I say this as an ex-Lib Dem voter but examine this issue without political bias.
The plan to put it at the back would allow housing to hide the monstrosity design it will be. Housing might help shield nuisance noise also.
Ideally access would be from other than Huddersfield Rd to facilitate ease of entry/exit from the village both of vehicles and pupils thereby protecting villagers from irritation.
Watch the LibDems try to get on any bandwagon-as another writer said they have no local credibility.
Perhaps our friend Garth Harkness will be able to get an access road out to the turning circle-full support LOL
The recent press comments from Saddleworth School Governors, quoting costs and technical problems plus danger to pupils if school is built in Uppermill are frankly disingenuous and scaremongering. Its on public record that Mathew Millburn Head Teacher Saddleworth School has said he doesn’t mind where the school is sited as long as he gets a new school.
So therefore does that infer Mr Millburn is out of line with the schools governing body or they are all in a flap as they realise that the EFA will do a fair re-assessment of all four options and it possibility maybe the option that the school and OMBC doesn’t want.
Transparency and openness has been a disaster throughout this controversial planning proposal. SDAG’s growth was built on the fact that it strived to find proper answers and treat people intelligently, instead of Lib/Dem and OMBC spin and the schools tokenism. e.g. Whats happened to all the schools technical meetings with its group of experts. Have they met? What have they come up with? And why isn’t the public informed of the groups findings? Or do we have to seek a Freedom of Information Act request to find out whats going on?
The whole sorry Saddleworth Saga is worthy of a “Blott on the Landscape” rewrite if it wasn’t for the fact that the social, environmental and infrastructure damage to Diggle would turn it from a farce to a tragedy.
Ok, ‘new school now’, let us accept for now that you are a genuine member of the public and not just a gutless Lib Dem, and look more closely at your statement shall we? Especially this part, “There seems a hint of hypocrisy from Nikki Kirkham who is part of the District Executive in Saddleworth who said they would support the deal. There was no report of opposition so has also done a U-Turn and would risk the loss of a new school. It’s simple if you don’t accept the EFA’s decision you don’t get the money.”
I mean where to start with this? I have spoken to Nikki and she has reassured me that she did voice her opposition at the meeting quite categorically, and that she will be demanding that the minutes are adjusted to reflect this, as they are currently incorrect. Is this a surprise when the majority of the committee are Lib Dems we wonder? Secondly, how is it that a random member of the public like your good self has knowledge of what did or didn’t take place at a meeting where no members of the public present. In the words of Hercules Poirot, this is a mystery n’est pas? As a supporter of the Independents and previous candidate, I had no idea about the meeting or who said what, and yet you do? Very odd. Come on, lets get shut of the silly pseudonyms now and play fair eh? The Libs are really getting a bad reputation in Saddleworth for spinning information, why do you continue to worsen that situation with these silly little pseudonyms. Grow a pair please and play fair for once. Hoping for a bit much there I think though.
Schools everywhere experience congestion at peak times, so the new Saddleworth School will do the same regardless of location. I’m hoping the safety of the pupils is a major consideration in any plans that are drawn up, and what the plans are for the current “bottleneck” at the top of Huddersfield Road.
It would certainly help if there were an area of land provided for those residents to park off the main road – leading to an improvement in the current situation, where the cars have caused distruption getting in and out of the village – especially larger vehicles and buses.
Tom,
Excellent idea about giving residents on Huddersfield Road a private place to park, this will certainly improve the access to Diggle, not just for the new school but for all of us
I don’t understand why the new school can’t be built in Uppermill – that seems like a much more sensible idea