Sale residents accuse school of breaking planning rules (From Messenger Newspapers)

Sale residents accuse school of breaking planning rules

10:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

RESIDENTS living adjacent to a Sale primary school have accused it of breaking council imposed planning conditions.

A group of residents living on Alma Road, which they describe as a restricted width cul-de-sac, have been in dispute with Tyntesfield Primary School for some time, regarding the high volume of traffic on the road during school pick-up and drop-off times.

The school was granted permission to build two new classrooms on August 9 2012, but on the condition that a travel plan was submitted and approved by Trafford’s planning committee.

However, while the travel plan was published on Trafford Council’s website on January 15, according to the residents, work began as far back August 30 and new classrooms were delivered and installed on November 1.

The spokesman, who does not wish to be named, said Alma Road residents informed the council that the classrooms had been built and were told that while there had been a ‘technical breach’ of planning conditions, the classrooms would not be occupied until the plan was submitted.

“Surely a breach of conditions is a breach, technical or not?” a spokesman said.

According to the residents, the new classrooms were then occupied on January 7 despite numerous complaints from residents, who no longer feel they have a working relationship with Tyntesfield Primary School.

Trafford Council's chief planning officer, Kieran Howarth, said: "Council officers have worked closely with the school over recent weeks to ensure the initial issues raised relating to the start of work at the school were satisfactorily resolved.

“In relation to this, I can confirm that the school’s travel plan has been approved and can now be implemented."

Kylie Spark, headteacher of Tyntesfield Primary School, said the school is committed to on-going development and improvement of traffic-reducing initiatives, with the help of the local authority and the wider community.

Mrs Spark added: “Our school travel plan aims to reduce the number of car trips made, encouraging walking, cycling and public transport on the school journey.”

The travel plan can be viewed at trafford.gov.uk/environmentandplanning/planning/ application number:78693/FULL/2012.