Lenny Barn land exchange

Lenny Barn

Local residents are being invited to tell the council their views on the proposed plots of land that are being put forward as part of an exchange so that Lenny Barn playing fields can be used to rebuild Falinge Park High School.

Falinge Park are the oldest secondary school buildings in town and said to be in urgent need of redevelopment.

Rochdale Borough Council want to re-build Falinge Park High School using land adjacent to the current school but in order to do this, land will have to be exchanged to replace the area of playing fields which would be lost to the new development.

The council’s Charitable Trust Panel met to consider the proposed land swaps and made a decision to consult the residents living within the vicinity of the sites for the proposed land swaps.

They agreed to meet again once the outcome of the consultation process is known.

There are no available sites within the immediate locality of Falinge that could be used to replace the 4280m² of land, so three sites alternative locations have been put forward.

These are:

• Land on Foxholes Road 8060m² 
• The former Innes School 3700m² 
• Land in Falinge Park 2500m²

Councillor Teresa Fitzsimons, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said she is keen to hear from local residents near to the proposed land swap sites. 

She said: “It’s really important that the local community get involved in this consultation process so that everyone has their say about the choices regarding the land swap.”

The consultation process closes on Friday 13 August so let the council know your views before this date by writing to Keith Hill, PO Box 70, Municipal Offices, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1YD, emailing keith.hill@rochdale.gov.uk or contacting 01706 925083.