Oldham Council’s Planning Committee is set to consider all four applications relating to the proposed new Saddleworth School at a special meeting next month. This so-called ‘extraordinary’ meeting will consider only these matters and will take place in the Council Chambers on Thursday, February 25 at 6pm.
Three separate and one revised planning applications were all submitted in week commencing December 21 – triggering a statutory 21-day public consultation that ended on January 13. However, because of the confirmed Committee date, it has now been decided that the deadline to submit comments and feedback on these applications can be extended until Sunday, January 31.
The cross-party Planning Committee members will consider the applications which are to:
A) Build the new Saddleworth School on the WH Shaw Pallets site in Diggle;
B) Demolish existing buildings on the WH Shaw site, excluding the listed building;
C) Demolish the link bridge attached to the Grade II listed building on the WH Shaw site;
D) Provide a parental drop off area plus residential car parking as part of the wider highways scheme in Diggle.
Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “We understand these applications are complex and have attracted a lot of public interest so it is good common sense to deal with them all together at a special ‘one-off’ meeting of the Planning Committee. This will allow members the proper attention, time and focus to deal with these matters.
“In line with all the normal procedures for the planning committee, the four applications will be heard separately with a vote taken at the end of the discussion on each. That will enable the committee to hear from one speaker for and one against each application. Those speakers will get three minutes each to put their case before committee members then publicly debate and cast their votes.
“As usual, members of the public can attend to observe proceedings and there is no need to book or signal your intention to attend this meeting beforehand.”
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