‘Bowlee Masterplan’ thrown out at council cabinet

A ‘masterplan’ for a local community park was thrown out at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (13 March).

Residential developments will no longer be built at Bowlee as part of a ‘Bowlee Masterplan’ as decided by a previous cabinet meeting on 19 December - which excluded press and public.

At the same meeting on 19 December, Rochdale Borough Council signed off plans to release land on Bowlee Community Park for the school, Edgar Wood Academy, to be built by the Altus Education Partnership, who run Rochdale Sixth Form College.

Speaking at the recent meeting, Councillor Neil Emmott, Cabinet Member for Housing & Environment, put forward a new proposal, saying: “Residents have had a lot of concerns and quite rightly so. I personally don’t want to see residential development on this site either.

“I’d also like to propose an alternative site suggested by the Friends of Bowlee environmental group at the rear of Martindale [Crescent]. I move that [the] cabinet prefer that site to be put forward.”

The alternative site was put forward at the drop in meeting on 6 March by Eric Larmett, chairman of the Friends of Bowlee group: a comparable plot of land bordering Whittle Brook down to Martindale Crescent and up past the former school, running adjacent to the land currently proposed.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/116867/controversial-bowlee-school-consultation-evening

The proposal was supported by Councillor Keiran Heakin, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, and Councillor Liam O’Rourke, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills & Employment.

In response, Donna Bowler, Rochdale Council system director of place, commented that due to site surveying, the land shown on an artist’s impression would need to be considered.

A majority voted to support Councillor Emmott’s recommendation.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Larmett, a chartered surveyor, said: “I have to say Councillor Emmott was excellent. Our suggested site was offered to both Councillor Emmott and Donna Bowler at the consultation.

“If there are any issues with the site, I am more than happy to discuss problems and work out solutions.”

Resident Ted Woolley added: “It’s amazing when councillors speak up.”

A site for the school has to be decided upon prior to a free school bid by Altus to the Department of Education. Applications for new free school sites must be submitted during set periods of time throughout the year. The next window is expected to open in April.