U-turn as new school plans approved

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

Councillors Fred Lawton and Mike Barker in Grass Street Park

Plans for the new North Road Primary School have been approved by the Council after last minute changes.

The Council had decided to build a footpath and cycle way through the new school grounds, along the line of Pendleton Road South.

The Governors of the school were angry about this. They, and the Head Teacher, wanted the new school to be all on one site, with the children having direct, safe, access from the school buildings to their playing fields.

So the Council did a u-turn. The footpath and cycle way will now go around the outside of the school grounds, along St Paul's Terrace, beside St Paul's Place, to join Henry Street and return to Gurney Street.

Grass Street Park

The original plans for the new school showed Grass Street Park disappearing and the land included in the school grounds. A new play area was to be built in St Paul's Terrace.

Following objections from local residents, the Council has decided to keep the play area at the end of Grass Street. It will be smaller than the existing park. Because of the history of antisocial behaviour in the park, North Road councillors Mike Barker and Fred Lawton will work with the Council to ensure that security in the playground is a high priority.

Community facilities in the new school

Fred and Mike have been involved in the design of the new school, which will have rooms and facilities for the local community to use. As well as the playing fields, local people will have access to the school hall and changing rooms and to two smaller meeting rooms including kitchen facilities.

There will be a small charge to use the building, to cover caretaker costs. The community area will have computer and library facilities and will be available at times during the day, as well as in the evenings and at weekends.