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Bolton Council gives update on plans for new school in playing fields - a day after campaigners claim victory

Halted: Plans for a new school on Captains Clough playing field have been halted thanks to objections from local campaigners like Sorie Sesay
Halted: Plans for a new school on Captains Clough playing field have been halted thanks to objections from local campaigners like Sorie Sesay

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new school on playing fields have been halted, Bolton Council has confirmed today.

Town Hall chiefs said the proposal for a primary school in that area was "no longer justified."

The announcement comes just a day after campaigners told The Bolton News they were victorious in their campaign to have the plans withdrawn.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Roger Hayes said: "I'm delighted that all the work by local residents, supported by local councillors has been successful and I'm glad the council has seen sense.

"We'll be continuing to support the residents in future."

The £7M school was planned for be built off Captains Clough in Bolton as part of Department for Education led project Campaigners claimed the school would have created huge environmental and traffic problems, the scheme has now been halted.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Martyn Cox said: “This Department of Education-led project was only in its early stages and was always dependent on the data showing a clear, sustained need for a new school.

"The council needs to ensure we meet our obligation to provide sufficient school places but based on the latest data, we have concluded the new school was no longer justified.

“We are pleased the Department of Education are in agreement.

"The proposed school on Captains Clough meant building on playing fields, which local residents opposed.

"I am pleased that we can now concentrate with the Department of Education on looking at suitable schools to expand to meet the more limited future demand."

Whilst pupil projections are volatile, especially due to the pandemic, the latest data on births and population trends in the area are now showing a decline in numbers after the initial increase.

As such, council leaders say their view is that the numbers do not now justify pursuing a new school.

Sorie Sesay, a member of Smithills Labour Party, who had been campaigning against the plans, told The Bolton News earlier this week that he hoped the plans would be scrapped.

He said: "It’s vital our playing fields and other green spaces are protected for future generations "A school on this site would have been disastrous for the environment and created enormous traffic problems locally.

Increased capacity will still be needed in the coming years and the council says officers are now in discussions with the government to find alternative solutions.

An announcement of extra government funding for school expansions is expected in the spring and the council says it will be engaging with schools in the wider area to ask for expressions of interest in expanding.