ATHERTONIANS must decide whether a new school can be built on their field.

Covenants dating back over 70 years would need to be lifted for ancient Chowbent School to be relocated on a recreation ground.

The Education Authority want to replace the old school - dating back to 1720 - with a more suitable, single storey building.

But their preferred site on the 'rec' off Douglas Street is protected by covenants dating from 1926 and 1927, when Lord Lilford and Robert Greenhalgh left it for locals' use.

Now new school site objectors say the land should be declared a village green.

Residents' spokesman Terry Taylor of Sycamore Road, told The Journal: "Part of this land was bequethed by Lord Lilford in 1926 for the children of Atherton - for kids to play on.

"The greater part of the recreation ground was left by the Greenhalgh family for the people of Atherton."

Mr Taylor said objectors aren't against a new school but feel there are better places to put it.

He said: "Football teams play there and generations have enjoyed it. It wasn't meant to be built on.

"They could put it on the Meadowbank complex or knock down Victoria Mill, which is the biggest eyesore in the area, and plonk it there.

"Or build it by The Valley where I'm told 26 terraced houses are to be built.

"We are annoyed at the way the local authority tried to get the covenant lifted."

He argued if the recreation ground school plan was to go ahead the Bolton Old Road end of the site would be a better place to put it. He said this would leave the playing field untouched and allow on-site car parking.

"If we have to have it here why not put it where everybody is happy? We're trying to have the recreation ground designated as a village green."

Wigan Council has received 32 letters, a letter signed by 13 people and a further 17 signed slips objecting to the new school plan.

The single storey infants and junior school proposals would accommodate up to 200 children.

It would replace the 183 pupil school which has been condemned by building surveyors and fire experts as unsafe and unsuitable. Repairing the old school isn't financially feasible.

In a report to Wigan Planning Committee Director of Education Bob Clark said in order to take advantage of a £1.52m Department for Education and Employment grant, building work would have to begin by mid-Summer.

Mr Clark said: "As soon as the bid was approved negotiations were entered into with the Lilford estates who hold the covenant to the Douglas end of the site.

"It soon became public knowledge and the residents raised early objections without knowing details of the proposals.

"As a result of these objections the Authority considered siting the school at the Wesley Street end.

"The Greenhalgh family proved difficult to trace and was eventually found in Anglesey. Officers of the Authority travelled to Wales to meet the family to pursue lifting the covenant.

"Although the meeting was beneficial, and the project carried the support of the family, it was apparent the covenant could only be lifted by the benefactors, that is the people of Atherton."

He concluded by saying if the application was unsuccessful "the oppportunity to build a new school for Atherton will be lost and Chowbent J and I School would remain where it is and with all its problems.

"The LEA has no other sites available as another site along Douglas Street was released for residential development a short time ago."

Planning committee members will visit the site before considering the application.

Joining the protest is three years old Daniel Bullough, a pupil at St Richard's playgroup.

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