Neighbours object to specialist school plan
NEIGHBOURS are objecting to plans to open a specialist school for kids in care on a quiet cul-de-sac in Rochdale.
Care company Meadows Care has applied for planning permission to open a small, independent, secondary school for four children.
The firm, which runs 17 care homes, say they would ensure the school in Castleton is ‘integrated within the community’ and pupils would be encouraged to make a ‘positive impact’ on the area.
But residents on Pleasant Street say the plans, which would see the conversion of an existing Meadows Care home which currently looks after one child, would lead to an increase in parking problems and anti-social behaviour.
At the time of writing 13 letters of objection had been received by the council.
Pleasant Street resident Ben Hughes is among those protesting against the plans.
He said: “All the residents are up in arms about it because it is a really small street.
“The school would need two teachers per child, plus the head- teacher, so that’s at least nine extra cars on the road.
“The other issue is some of the kids from the home have already caused a bit of a nuisance on the street, so everybody is a bit worried about what will happen when there are four pupils there.”
But in a report submitted with the planning application the firm lays out how it plans to address neighbours’ concerns.
It states: “Meadows Care recognise there can be concerns around a development such as this being in the immediate neighbouring community and the anxieties this may bring to existing residents.
“We have attempted to further address some of the concerns local residents may hold and how Meadows Care plan to manage these, including some of the understandable concerns raised during the planning process.”
The firm say the school will be monitored by education watchdog Ofsted and would be overseen by ‘very experienced teachers and school leaders’,
Anti-social behaviour would be ‘taken seriously’ by the headteacher and any disruption caused to neighbours by pupils would be ‘discussed and rectified as soon as is appropriate to alleviate concerns’.
Staff would also park on the driveway and area in front of the school and contractors would also be asked to ‘park sensibly’ and not obstruct the pavement
Smallbridge-based Meadows Care was contacted for a comment.
The application will be decided at a later date.