Hi All For a whole year with all your support we have campaigned tirelessly to try and make the powers that be LISTEN. Apart from Debbie Abrahams very early meeting with David Laws Schools Minister accompanied by Leader of Oldham Council Jim McMahon and a FAQ from OMBC there’s been no progress. We campaigned the EFA asking for FOI information about the school negotiations and managed to get the EFA to do a feasibility study of all 4 sites. A local architect has freely given his services to show the school governors and OMBC how the school can be built in Uppermill. We are not 'loudmouths' just people that want an open debate on an issue that will ruin Diggle and be a disaster for Saddleworth for ever. So in a year putting our views and concerns across about the proposed Saddleworth School rebuild in Diggle has met with a loud SILENCE from our MP and OMBC. Our requests for meetings met with SILENCE, asking them to come to local community meetings met with SILENCE, surgery time from our MP met with SILENCE. We asked ages ago for the people with power to stop tweeting and start talking. . . . . Guess what they're still tweeting NOT talking. The fwd press release from Saddleworth Independent councillors is stage 1 in changing that. Please read and feel free to contact Debbie Abrahams your local MP and Jim McMahon by enclosing the press release and asking them why OMBC the 'open and transparent local authority' will not TALK. Or if you are a Twitter person Tweet @Debbie_Abrahams or @CllrJimMcMahon. Addresses Cllr. J. McMahon, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Civic Centre, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1UG email: cllr.j.mcmahon@oldham.gov.uk Debbie Abrahams MP Saddleworth & Oldham East Mrs Debbie Abrahams, M.P., House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. email abrahamsd@parliament.uk Again a massive 'thank you' for all your continued support. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEDIA RELEASE SADDLEWORTH INDEPENDENT COUNCILLORS PETITION OLDHAM COUNCIL AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO BUILD THE NEW SADDLEWORTH SCHOOL IN UPPERMILL Early in the Summer the Government’s Educational Funding Agency (EFA) announced it would make a decision on the site of the new Saddleworth Secondary School and that an announcement was expected in the Autumn. Saddleworth Independent Councillors Nikki Kirkham, Mike Buckley, Rob Knotts, Lesley Brown and Lesley Schofield have now written to the EFA chief executive requesting that the wishes of local Saddleworth people are fully taken into consideration when making the decision. To underline this message the councillors plan to present the EFA with a petition signed by over 3,000 Saddleworth residents, businesses, and parents requesting that the new school remains in Uppermill. The location of the new school has been a topic of great concern throughout the district. An apparent ‘done deal’ announced by Oldham Council to build the school in Diggle, was overturned in June following a meeting between Saddleworth Independent Councillors and the EFA. Following the meeting the EFA decided to include the Uppermill site as an option. Since then survey work has been carried out at Uppermill to seriously evaluate the Uppermill option; survey work that has never before taken place. Cllr Nikki Kirkham said “the EFA have said the school can be built in Uppermill, it just boils down to cost. We are convinced that it will cost a lot less to build in Uppermill as the playing fields and public transport arrangements are already in place. It all hinges on whether Oldham Council will subsidise the EFA costs in Diggle. Oldham Council money should be used to improve the school itself not on the expensive groundwork necessary in Diggle. “Traffic is an insurmountable problem in Diggle and there is a real concern over pedestrian safety. We have written to the EFA highlighting the concerns of the Saddleworth community. We also have requested that Cllr McMahon, Leader of Oldham Council meets with us to receive the petition and discuss these concerns. To date the people of Saddleworth have never been consulted.” The Councillors also plan to petition MP, Debbie Abrahams, and School Minister David Laws. Contacts: 25th October 2014 Cllr. Nikki Kirkham Cllr. Mike Buckley nikki.kirkham@oldham.gov.uk 07989 595215 mikebuckley@saddleworth.net 07805 286939