School noise assessment is the only way forward

CROMPTON House School in Shaw, Oldham, is about to apply for planning permission for a massive expansion.

The proposal will allow for another 600 additional students in addition to the 1,400 pupils who already attend this school – plus the necessary additional number of teachers and staff.

Existing buildings are to be expanded and a new teaching block will be built on the school site. There will also be two new 40-vehicle car parks, one of which will be built alongside a block of flats and behind existing dwellings on Grampian Way.

The proposal also includes a new multi-use games area behind Crompton Cemetery.

As you would expect the noise levels at break times and during the daytime use of the sports facilities will increase substantially.

The 80 new vehicles using the new car parks will create a substantial increase in the amount of additional noise and pollution produced by this school site.

Oldham council’s planning department has once again deemed that it is not necessary to ask for a noise assessment on the proposed expansion, just as it did a few years ago when it granted planning permission for a new 3G pitch on this school site. This pitch is now in constant use – not only during school hours – but by a community football club with 90 teams who use the pitch seven days a week.

The surprising thing is that, since 2012, the council has asked for noise assessments to be carried out on nearly all other similar projects including Yew Tree School, Royton and Oldham sports centres, several sports facilities located near the Foxdenton proposal and the proposed new Saddleworth school.

So why not Crompton House School? Surely it’s not because the council is afraid that the noise assessment would almost certainly prevent the proposal going ahead.

The only way to prove if noise will be a significant nuisance, or not, once the expansion programme is brought into use is to have a noise assessment during the planning stage.

It should not rely on some planning officer’s guess work or left to see how many complaints there are from residents once the school and its car parks are in use. Graham Wilcock, Shaw

UGLY WALL IS AN EYESORE

AFTER praising Max Arpino recently I would also like to praise two other house owners in Rochdale for taking a pride in the exterior of their homes.

The two properties are adjacent and not too far from me. They are what could be called picture perfect with flowers in abundance.

Anywhere else they would be on postcards promoting a positive image of the town.

In contrast another house, again not too far away, has erected a ●●This image of a flower, Primula Bulleesiana, was submitted by Paul Watson. Email your pictures to us at rochdaleobserver@menmedia.co.uk or upload them to flickr.com/groups/rochdalepics unsightly concrete boundary wall which adds nothing to the area.

Why does the council allow such unsightly constructions in a residential area? John Herbert Broad Lane

JOE, YOU’RE AN INSPIRATION

WHAT an inspiration young man Joe Thompson is.

Not only to score the goal but to over come cancer.

A huge well done, continued success to you Joe.

You truly deserve the award you have been nominated for. ‘Wellwisher’

STREET MUSIC IS GOOD STUFF

IN reply to letter Rochdale Observer Saturday, May 25: I partly agree with some of his comments but the other street entertainers e.g. the trumpeter and the man who plays ballroom/ latin on electric organ are very good and it’s nice to hear some decent music played. Name and address supplied

VOLUNTEERS ARE AMAZING

SPRINGHILL Hospice would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who offer so much of their time, energy and commitment to support us and the services the hospice offers to our patients and their families.

Approximately 420 volunteers offer their support time to assist in various areas of the hospice and within our charity shops and busy tea room.

Whether it’s helping our patients with meals and to do art, helping in the kitchen, driving, fundraising, staffing the reception desk, keeping our gardens in award winning condition, working in the shops, crafting wonderful items for sale and taking care of customers in our new tea rooms at the Craven on Broad Lane, all our volunteers are truly appreciated and do a sterling job.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups and each brings with them their own individual skills, personalities and expertise.

Each volunteer has their own reasons for volunteering and we hope that every one of them enjoys their role and gains satisfaction from what they do.

Awards are given to volunteers at the Volunteer Award Ceremony after various lengths of service, in recognition of their service to the hospice. In 2014 a new 25 year service award was introduced.

Several volunteers have been with us since the hospice first opened in 1989 and were the first proud recipients of this milestone award. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and another new award will be required – this time for 30 years. Now that is commitment!

Regardless of length of service, age or role, without our volunteers Springhill Hospice would not be the exceptional place it is. We owe each and every one of our volunteers our gratitude and appreciation for enabling Springhill Hospice to offer an exceptional service to patients, families and visitors.

Thank you all. From trustees and staff at Springhill Hospice

TOWN RUINED BY COUNCIL

REGARDING Rochdale Observer, Saturday May 19: action to save historic street.

Thanks to our council they have let Drake Street deteriorate. They’ve demolished historic buildings such as Iveson’s, Champness Hall is declining, Odeon cinema gone. I can go on.

Our 60 councillors have wasted millions of pounds on the wrong projects. ‘Rochdalian’