Residents' fears that they could lose an 'oasis' at the heart of their estate look set to be realised. In the centre of the Milton Road estate, in Radcliffe, sits a green space known locally as Milton Meadows. The space is used by dog walkers, for the annual bonfire night celebrations and as a place for children to play.
Over recent years, volunteers have spent 'hundreds of hours' transforming the land, clearing it, trimming hedges and planting flowers. The aim was to turn it into an 'oasis' in the middle of what has been described as a 'very depressing estate'.
Council moves to sell land for school
Bury council confirmed last month that it was looking to dispose of the land so a new school could be built there. Despite objections from local residents, the authority's cabinet is now being asked to approve that sale. Documents published by the town hall reveal the school, which would be a pupil referral unit, could cater to 136 children. A pupil referral unit is a non-mainstream setting which can accommodate pupils with additional educational and behavioural needs.
Neighbours have raised a number of concerns about the plans, including loss of the open space, crime, safety, traffic and the impact on residents without gardens. The area is among the most deprived in the borough.
Residents voice objections
One person said: “Milton Meadow is not redundant wasteland; it is a highly valued, actively used green lung within a heavily built-up urban area. Significant volunteer hours and ecological planning have gone into enhancing this space [...] “Placing a pupil referral unit in the middle of an established residential area raises serious concerns regarding increased traffic and parking pressures, safeguarding and community safety, noise and disturbance, and immense pressure on already stretched local infrastructure.”
A second added: “While our town needs education facilities, destroying our vital local green space is entirely the wrong choice. This field is our community hub, our wildlife oasis, and the only green space for many residents living in nearby flats without gardens.” A third said there has been 'consistent' anti-social behaviour in the area, with drugs, fighting and 'uncontrolled' bonfires. They added: “This is not a safe area for vulnerable children to be relocated.”
Council cites legal obligations
Regarding the loss of the open space, the council said it considers there to be other 'nearby' areas for the community to use. It felt issues around traffic, safety, parking and biodiversity were matters to be considered at the planning application stage and did not relate to the disposal of the site.
The council has also said it is bound by legal agreements with the Oak Learning Partnership academy trust to provide a permanent school setting in the borough by September 2028. Currently, the trust provides education for this cohort of students in two temporary centres – one at the New Kershaw centre and the other in Whittaker Street, Radcliffe. The council fears the trust could take legal action if this agreement is not honoured. It could also withdraw current provision and renegotiate existing placements. This would 'further compromise the lives of some of Bury's most vulnerable young people', documents state.
Alternative sites considered
Bury council said it has considered a number of other options for the new school, including locations in Whitefield, Redvales and at the New Kershaw centre. Most of these were considered too small to meet requirements, documents add. A further site, in Wellington Road, in Bury, was also considered, but officers said this was 'heavily contaminated' and would increase project costs by £3m. It is currently expected to cost £17m.
Bury council revealed this week that it is facing a difficult financial position and will be asking the Government for assistance in balancing its books for the coming years. Among the options it is pursuing is using money from its capital programme to balance its day-to-day spending, but accepted this would reduce its capacity to deliver projects in the borough.
Documents also set out additional details regarding the new school. They show it would be a two-storey building for secondary school pupils. In addition to classrooms, it would have a gym, school hall and vocational spaces for construction, catering, hair and beauty and horticulture. Vehicle access would be via two points on Milton Road, one centrally in the site and one in the south-west corner. Parking areas, outdoor play space and 'enhanced community open space provision' would also form part of the plans.
Documents show a full planning application is ready to be submitted to the council subject to cabinet agreeing to dispose of the site. Councillors are set to meet next week to discuss the plans.
