Common sense prevails in Diggle

Parliamentary news
Councillor Garth Harkness has succeeded in substituting common sense for an excessive proposal for parking restrictions in Diggle when the new Saddleworth School opens. As part of the plan for the approach to the school, council officers proposed a parking ban between 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday on Huddersfield Road between the school entrance road and the new car park. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “In response to comments from residents in the latest consultation, before the lockdown, I proposed to the council that waiting restriction times could be reduced in order to help with resident parking. The council still preferred the longer restriction, arguing that it would allow overnight parking. “Most people don’t leave their house at 6am and pupils don’t arrive at school then, so I challenged it…
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Kept in the dark on Saddleworth School

Borough news
Saddleworth Councillors Garth Harkness and Sam Al-Hamdani have expressed concerns about being kept in the dark about Saddleworth School. This follows a rumour that had circulated that the land sale at Uppermill would not now go ahead. Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We need to know what is going to happen to the Uppermill site that currently occupies Saddleworth School and the rumours appear to contradict what we have been told. If so, we have either been misled or something substantial has changed and we need to know why?” Councillor Garth Harkness said: “We were told that the land sale in Uppermill was required to help fund a new school and highways work in Diggle. We have asked to be kept informed and involved throughout and are disappointed to…
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Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Undecided fate for Saddleworth School site must be resolved

Borough news
Following a written request, Oldham Borough Council has confirmed to local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani that there is no agreement to transfer the site of the existing Saddleworth School in Uppermill to local developer Wiggetts. Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, the Liberal Democrats spokesperson for Saddleworth, said: “This is a large site in the centre of Saddleworth’s most populous village. It is clear that we need to know what the existing site is going to be used for, and to ensure that we can maximise the benefit to the community. “It seems that most people’s understanding that the site was to be transferred to Wiggetts in exchange for the new school site was incorrect. We need to know what the alternatives are, and push the Council to deliver the best solution for Saddleworth…
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Saddleworth School Judicial review- Lib Dem joint statement

Saddleworth School Judicial review- Lib Dem joint statement

Saddleworth News
The Judicial Review by Mr. Justice Kerr has upheld only 1 of the 9 objections put forwards by the objectors group with the other 8 being decisively dismissed. This means that the application will have to go back to the Oldham Council Planning Committee so due consideration of other sites issue to be included in the process. No doubt many parents, grandparents and pupils will be so disappointed at the further delay in providing a new school building for Saddleworth suitable for 21st century education yet they still reside in crumbling accommodation reaching the end of its life Indeed other schools funded in this programme are now built, occupied and providing the facilities we want for our young people Cllr Garth Harkness, Liberal Democrat, Saddleworth North, Oldham Council Cllr Derek…
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