Public air views on Lenny Barn land swap

Falinge Park High School

More than 40 members of the public gathered in Rochdale Town Hall’s Council Chamber this evening to discuss the proposed land exchange for Lenny Barn playing fields.

The meeting was chaired by the chairwoman of Rochdale Township Committee, Councillor Wera Hobhouse who vowed to hold the meeting following concerns which had been voiced.

The public meeting was a story of two halves, with some people opposed to the use of Lenny Barn at all and others standing firm on the view that Falinge Park High School must be rebuilt to give the children of the borough the best educational chances possible.

Chris Swift, School Re-Organisation Manager took questions from the floor from concerned members of the public.

Carl Faulkner was the first to speak, a Rochdale man who has spoke out about these proposals from the beginning.  He described the building plans and the land swap as a “long standing ambition for the council” adding that “money is being thrown around like confetti.”

Mr Faulkner asked, as he has in the past, what the benefit will be to Lenny Barn to rebuild Falinge Park High School slap bang in the middle of it.

Mr Swift answered: “The reason behind the plans is that the school needs substantial replacement, the location of Falinge Park High School at the moment is constrained, it could accommodate the new build but there would be a lot of disruption as the whole school would need to be decanted to temporary accommodation.

“The benefit would be provided through quality facilities for teaching and learning. However this is for the charity commission to determine.”

One member of the audience suggested he thought the decision should be discussed at a full council meeting.

Another said: “You are not giving people much of a choice; the consultation should be about whether or not people are happy for Lenny Barn to be used not where it should be swapped with.”

William Hobhouse made a point that the fact no clear plans have been produced makes it very difficult to compare it to other sites.

People attending the meeting were provided with a footprint which showed Lenny Barn and where the school is now, with the proposed plan marked next to it on the map, however, it was outlined the footprint for the new school could be anywhere on Lenny Barn not necessarily next to the original school building.

Mr Swift explained there is no final plan at the moment because the charity commission may not approve the land swap.

One member of the public audience said: “Falinge Park High School has to be rebuilt, the children need education – I love Lenny Barn we all love Lenny Barn but if we have to do the land swap we have to do it for the children.

“I would however like to see that instead of losing one green space and compensating it with another that perhaps areas that are derelict or used as waste land could be flattened and made into a green space.”

This was followed by a suggestion that other alternatives should be considered.

Throughout the meeting various points were raised regarding a lack of trust in the council, what will happen to the land down the line, and whether or not the school rebuild was completely necessary.

A parent in the audience highlighted points of an OFSTED report which outline how the school accommodation doesn’t meet the needs of the children.

This was echoed by a representative from Falinge Park High School who explained the school must be repaired.

The consultation for the proposed land swap will run until 13 August 2010. The proposed land swap will then be put to the charity commission. Whether the plans can move forward depends on their answer. They have already said no once before when the suggested land swap was in Middleton.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/42914/lenny-barn-land-exchange

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/43382/dont-take-lenny-barn-away-say-residents

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news/44156/concerns-over-the-future-of-lenny-barn