Plans to relocate primary education from the Belz School in Salford to a new site in Manchester could lead to 'absolute gridlock', according to objectors. The proposal, which would move the school to 69 Crumpsall Lane, has drawn nearly 90 written objections to Manchester council ahead of a planning meeting on Thursday.
Objections highlight traffic and noise concerns
One objector wrote: "The proposal to run the school seven days a week is simply unbearable for residents who rely on weekends to rest and enjoy peace and quiet. The constant noise, traffic, and general activity from a school operating every single day will take away the much-needed break we currently get during weekends. The street will become a perpetual source of disruption, leaving residents with no opportunity for peace and quiet at all. This will seriously affect the quality of life for elderly residents like myself, who greatly value the opportunity to relax peacefully over the weekend."
Another objector from a 'neighbouring cul-de-sac' stated: "The road is already so constrained that council refuse trucks regularly struggle to navigate the avenue, having missed collections on multiple recent occasions due to parked vehicles. Introducing a school will result in absolute gridlock. If the council's own waste teams cannot access the street now, they will be completely blocked from collecting the school's large-scale commercial waste bins. Piles of uncollected school and residential waste waiting on a trapped cul-de-sac present a direct, severe environmental health hazard and an immediate risk of attracting rats and vermin to our properties."
Council report sees benefits
Despite the objections, a council report highlights potential benefits: "The proposed introduction of a new primary school at this location [Crumpsall] is identified as contributing towards addressing a stated shortfall in specialist educational provision within the area, including facilities tailored to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within the Jewish community."
The school would initially accommodate up to 60 pupils, with plans to expand to 120. The site is a 'vacant' care home building, and the proposed location is across the road from Crumpsall tram stop.
Highways review and conditions
Councillors on Manchester council's planning committee have visited the site to assess traffic. A council report stated: "These matters have been reviewed further by the highways [team] and are not considered to be significant. As such, they are unlikely to have a material impact on the operation of the local highway network."
A transport statement submitted with the application said: "Transport sustainability is a principle underlying the proposed development. Encouraging walking, cycling and public transport journeys is recognised as important, and the existing infrastructure provides a very good opportunity for journeys to and from the site to be undertaken by sustainable modes."
Councillors have been recommended to approve the application. The planning report proposes a condition that the school should 'not be operational' outside 8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 1pm on Fridays and Sundays, and 'no time' on Saturdays, to 'safeguard residential amenity'.
