RESIDENTS fighting plans for a special school on their doorsteps have petitioned locals and called-in their MP.

Within four days over 400 Tyldesley people signed a petition against the scheme to convert a town centre primary school in to one for 11-16 year-olds with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Now they are asking Terry Lewis to lend weight to their protest.

In a letter to the MP, Linda Roberts, of King William Street, one of the campaign leaders, asked him to look in to the new location of Rose Hill Special School "as a matter of urgency".

She writes:"This is a residential area with a high population of families, young children and elderly people.

"It is not a suitable location for this type of establishment. It should be located in a more rural area."

Protesters claim the local authority has tried to push through the changes as quickly as possible to minimise opposition.

She told Mr Lewis: "Notification in writing states this special school will open in August 2000 but we have information that when the primary school closes in November contractors are on stand-by to refurbish the property with an opening date set for Easter 2000.

"Nobody informed residents of Castleton Court or Parr Street which overlooks the back of the school.

"Only the residents of one house in King William Street were informed of plans.

"Yet within 50 feet of the perimeter fence is a nursing home, old people's flats, detached, semis and terraced homes."

Campaigners say plans are initially for 40 pupils, aged 11-16, attending during normal school, but claim there are plans to extend that to over 60 eventually.

One said: "These children are in this school only because no others will have them. "We've been advised - by someone who has worked with these children - to sell-up and move if this goes ahead!

"They reckon the children's behaviour is so bad some have to be escorted during their taxi rides to school and the best thing to do with them is lock them up!

"The Council seems to be trying to play everything down and contradicts itself. At the end of the day what they are planning is an approved school - right on our doorsteps.

King William Street resident John Wilkinson told the Journal: "The present school building can take between two and three hundred children yet they say they only intend putting 40 pupils there.

"It is going to cost a hell of a lot of money to adapt the building - why couldn't they spend that money on Highfield?

"Old people are already terrified of opening their doors now, what will it be like in future?"

And ward councillor Robert Bleakley has taken up the residents' fight.

He has written to the Director of Education, Bob Clark, asking what type of consultation has gone on with residents in the area.

"I shall also be seeking a meeting with him and handing over the petition.

"We want this plan nipped in the bud now. We are not having a residential area frightened to death by a bunch of unruly children."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.