Public not given the chance to discuss Littleborough playing fields being approved as site for new secondary school

Littleborough playing fields have been earmarked as a potential new site for a secondary school after approval by Rochdale council’s cabinet on Tuesday (26 June).

However, when the members of the public and press, including Councillor John Taylor, were brought into the meeting, it appeared to be well underway with one council officer answering questions, sparking concern that the meeting had begun earlier than the advertised 6.15pm time.

Cabinet meetings begin by setting out the agenda for the evening including urgent items of business and items to be excluded from press and public if applicable. approving the minutes of the previous meeting

Each item on the agenda is then covered individually with cabinet members and council officers discussing the topic, with the public – if present -  given the opportunity to contribute. Despite this, no members of the public were able to share their views due to 'missing' the earlier open forum in the meeting.

A site for the school has to be decided upon prior to a free school bid by Altus Education Partnership, which runs Rochdale Sixth Form College, to the Department of Education. Applications for new free school sites must be submitted during set periods of time throughout the year. The latest round opened on 18 June, with an expected date of January 2019 to find out if bids were successful.

Littleborough playing fields were chosen as the preferred site for the new school, run by Altus, over Rutherford Park in Wardle, where Wardle FC are based. As the site proposed is a playing field, consent must be granted by the Secretary of State for the lease of land towards a new school, proposed to open in 2022. Infrastructure and roads will require additional funding.

Given no opportunity to address the cabinet, representatives from Littleborough Juniors FC, treasurer and manager Suzanne Wilkinson and kitman Sue Hampshire, spoke to Rochdale Online about the decision.

They said: “We aren’t against a new school, but we just want to know how this affects us. We have 300 children who play in the club from under sixes to under 18s. We want the council to work with us, and whoever builds it to support us as a club. We’ve used fields at Littleborough and Firgrove for over 20 years.”

Chairman of Wardle Football Club, Rik Fielding, said: “My heart always said we would win but my head said this was a local council hellbent on killing our football club.

“I think Rochdale Online saw first-hand how they didn’t want Wardle in that meeting by keeping us waiting downstairs, so we missed the start and possibly the chance to put our points of view across.

“I have every sympathy for our local rivals having their playing fields chosen, however my first concerns have and always will be about what is best for Wardle Football Club, the local community and our members that need and want grassroots football in our village.

“After the meeting, a member of the council tried to explain the reasoning for the two sites selected, stating it only started in May. If Rochdale Council can put plans in place within a month to build a new high school, why has our club been waiting over five years for the council to get their act together and support our football club?

“In regard to the future development of our club, there is no need for the council to drag their heels now and all parties need to push on and fulfil the ideas and promises that have been made for over five years. We have great support, not just within our club but from the community and our local councillors that have spent hours doing what is right for our local community. 

“We push on with our plans starting with a big tidy and repair day at Rutherford Park on 7 July, knowing we have a future and our children’s children have a future.”

Councillor Taylor, who attended Littleborough High School when he was younger, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the cabinet selected Littleborough as the preferred option for the school.

“We need a new school, and this is absolutely the right place for it to be.  A school in Littleborough will service the areas of Dean Head, Summit, Barnes Meadows, Shopwood, Todmorden Road, Calderbrook, Grove, Central Littleborough, Ealees, Blackstone Edge, Shore, and many of the proposed new builds.

“A school in Littleborough will reduce commuting for many, whilst reducing congestion and the carbon footprint for the area. It will be within walking or cycling distance for the aforementioned areas, and the benefits of that keep in with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Made to Move strategy, something I fully endorse.

“Access on and off the site needs careful consideration, but with some thought given to the entire perimeter when deciding upon entry and exit points, I do believe the benefits mentioned will be achieved.

“A school in Littleborough compliments existing provision in Wardle and Milnrow, giving the Pennines a fair distribution of provision.”

A council spokesman said: “The cabinet meeting on 26 June started on time. Councillor John Taylor had, prior to the meeting, requested to speak but later agreed with the committee chair that it was unnecessary for him to do so. The director of children’s services and the school place planning officer spoke to Councillor Taylor and members of the public after they left the meeting.

“They answered questions and explained why certain actions had been taken. Councillor Taylor acknowledged that the decision taken meant there was no need for him to speak during the meeting.

“Members of the public were assured there are still lots of steps that need to be followed, including a decision by the Department for Education to fund the free school, Secretary of State approval, and that there will be opportunities for consultation and consideration of their views.

“We always welcome public attendance at our meetings and value the interest of our residents.”

A consultation about the provision of school places will take place in September, similar to the one at Bowlee earlier this year:

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

Details, when available, will be published on Rochdale Online.