'The right plan in the wrong place': Bid for new special school thrown out

Plans for a new special in Rochdale have been thrown out for being ‘the right plan in the wrong place’.

The proposal would have seen Rainshore House in Norden transformed into a specialist school for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The Aurora Group, who would have run the facility, said the school would provide eight classrooms, dedicated therapy rooms; a 27-space car park; an allotment; and a playground.

It would have provided specialist curriculum areas for science, cookery and ICT for 55 pupils and 25-30 staff. Minor remodelling of the inside of the house as well as the demolition of the garage would have been necessary to make the project work, the planning committee meeting in Number One Riverside heard.

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But locals claimed the new school would cause traffic chaos on Over Town Lane, which was described as ‘a narrow single track lane with poor visibility and no turning points’. With the potential for increased comings and goings to the school, people from Norden felt this new school would impact on Greenbooth Reservoir visitors as well as the greenbelt.

The objectors added that the one-way street is too narrow to support minibus drop offs and increased traffic, the meeting on November 6 was told.

Stuart Willis, representing the objectors, said: “Me and Diane Thorpe have lived in Norden ward for 35 years and we know the area very well. There is a huge level of concern for this application. The villagers are worried about the impact on an important part of the greenbelt.”

Fellow objector Ms Thorpe said the potential traffic congestion this new school could bring would be ‘a huge safety concern’.

Coun Peter Winkler added: