We write following the outcome of the Judicial Review by Mr. Justice Kerr relating to Saddleworth School which now causes further delays on a project where a new school should have been built and occupied for some time.

No doubt many parents, grandparents and pupils will be so disappointed at the further delay in providing a new school building for Saddleworth suitable for 21st century education yet they still reside in crumbling accommodation reaching the end of its life.  Indeed the words by Saddleworth school head boy, Joe Wheeler stating “The construction of the new school should not be a battle between the villages. We should all be in unison to allow the children of tomorrow every single opportunity to flourish within their education” shows some wise shoulders and great leadership that we could all learn from.

In moving forward we all have to work together to ensure we get a new secondary school.

We are sure you know that my priority has always been to ensure that we get a new secondary school in Saddleworth and have always worked constructively with the council and other partners to achieve this. After all this time,  We do not want to see the worst case scenario of the Diggle site being occupied by industrial units (as per it’s site designation), funding being pulled and us eventually having no secondary school in Saddleworth. We believe we need to be open and transparent to get the best outcome for our young people.

In a Manchester Evening News they report that “The court heard the council accepted that redeveloping the school on its existing site, whilst a more expensive option, would be “viable and affordable”. When the phrase was repeated in the Oldham Evening Chronicle it prompted us to write this letter. The implication of this statement suggests that the Education Funding Agency would provide even more funding to cover the significant costs of building in Uppermill and presumably financially supporting the decant of students to alternative accommodation during the process. This contradicts every single briefing I and my colleagues have ever received from Oldham council and others.

If we have learnt anything from this process it is that the silence will be filled with inaccuracies. I am therefore asking that the comments be addressed head on. We need to be in possession of the facts. If it is apparent that councillors have been misled then I would call for a full investigation and if appropriate, disciplinary action to be taken. If the accusations are false then such reporting should be condemned and Oldham council need to put the record straight.

We are more than willing to work with you to ensure that we get a new school for Saddleworth. Other schools funded in this programme are now built, occupied and providing the facilities we want for our young people. This has gone on too long and we need to get the best for our young people.

Yours Sincerely,

Cllr Garth Harkness,

Cllr Derek Heffernan

Cllr John McCann