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Safety protests block school move
By Staff Reporter

A NURSERY'S move to a new school site has been put on hold amid objections from residents who claim it would create traffic chaos and spoil their views.

St Osmund's and St Andrew's primary schools united on the former Moss Primary School site off Falkirk Drive, Breightmet, earlier this month.

They had merged four years ago because of falling rolls but continued to operate on two sites, including one at Blenheim Road, which remains home to the private nursery.


But plans to reinforce the link with the nursery by opening a temporary home for it at the new site were blocked after Bolton Council received 10 letters of objection.

The council's planning committee deferred a decision and talks are now being held about moving the nursery further along Brodick Drive, which borders the school, away from the homes in Falkirk Drive.

Jane Rose, of Falkirk Drive, told councillors, there would be "an accident waiting to happen" with parents driving to drop off their toddlers would pose another hazard on an already busy road.


"There are already around 300 pupils on the site and the nursery would mean a further 50 and more problems," she said.

She added that the "ugly blue building" would block some views completely and devalue properties.

Breightmet councillor Linda Byrne said she and her husband John, who also represents the area, backed the nursery's move but wanted the building positioned elsewhere in the school grounds.

However, ward colleague, Cllr Bob Wilkinson, backed the nursery in the location suggested, and there were petitions of support signed by 264 people.

Councillors agreed to compromise by looking for another site within the school grounds.

Cllr David Wilkinson said: "The problem is lazy parents. We talk about children being overweight but parents bundle their kids into the car instead of getting off their back-side and walking three or four hundred yards."

After the meeting, headteacher John Thorpe said: "We are now looking at a location 50 to 60 metres further down Brodick Drive but our intention is that it would be for three years while we try and raise funds for a bricks and mortar nursery."

Mr Thorpe added that council road safety officials had no concerns about traffic.

"Parents parking up with their children actually have the effect of calming traffic along that stretch of road and no vehicle passed the school in excess of 10 or 15 miles per hour," he said.


3:49pm Wednesday 26th September 2007