Play area within Hopwood Park to be created

Hopwood Community Primary School has been given permission to create a dual use play area within Hopwood Park for weekday, term time use of Hopwood Community Primary School. The play area will also provide of a safe, clean community play space at all other times.

A recent increase in birth rates has meant that there is a need to plan and provide for, additional primary school places in Heywood Township. Additional accommodation for extra children could only be provided at Hopwood Community Primary School by reducing the existing hard play area.

The additional space for play and the delivery of the PE curriculum required was identified on an adjacent area of land within Hopwood Park.

At a Council Cabinet meeting held in March 2013 a decision was taken to provide 15 additional school places at Hopwood Community Primary School from September 2014 onwards, subject to the satisfactory agreement to the use of the park for play space.

Substantial improvements are to be made in the ground conditions and the safety and access provided year-round for both the school and wider community.

The Covenants placed on the park land when it was donated to Rochdale Council did not prohibit the proposal.