VOTE: Mill boarding school plan is put on hold (From This Is Lancashire)

VOTE: Mill boarding school plan is put on hold

7:38am Friday 10th July 2009

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A DECISION on whether an old mill can be transformed into a boarding school has been put on hold again — with one councillor saying the proposed conversion “looks more like a workhouse.”

Planning chiefs in Bolton say they want to consult with other council departments before making a decision over plans to convert Egyptian Mill.

The Al-Ehya Trust has submitted plans to turn the building in Slater Street, Bolton, into a Muslim boarding school for 434 pupils.

But members of Bolton Council’s planning committee say they would not feel comfortable passing the application without being confident the plans meet the welfare requirements of pupils.

Labour’s Cllr Laurie Williamson said: “It looks more like a workhouse. There are things about this application that I don’t like. I want to know who is responsible for monitoring it and making sure it is fit for human habitation.

“I also have concerns over the pupil to adult ratio which is over 20 to one and not acceptable in a high school.”

An agent from Midlands-based DNT Technology, which has submitted the application on behalf of the Al-Ehya Trust, was due to speak at yesterday’s meeting but was called away at the eleventh hour.

Cllr David Wilkinson, of the Lib Dems, said: “I would like to put off making a decision to see if we can speak to someone. I would like to be convinced that this is the right decision.”

Concerns were raised about the layout of the building and the lack of recreational facilities.

Labour’s Cllr Linda Thomas added: “We are told that the applicant has other schools like this elsewhere so maybe he could provide documentary evidence of how those are run then we can see for ourselves.”

The committee voted unanimously to defer the application to allow them to consult with council departments with an interest in educational and welfare issues in the borough.

andrew.greaves @theboltonnews.co.uk

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