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(UK) Haslingden: Planned special school for 24 with social/emotional needs has safety concerns

Nov 6, 2022, Lancashire Telegraph: Safety concerns raised about plans for new SEND school in old office building https://uk.news.yahoo.com/safety-concerns-raised-plans-send-050000815.html

NW England

Safety concerns have been raised about a new SEND school which could be opening in Haslingden.

Beacon Light Schools has submitted a planning application to change the use of the office building at Hazeldene on Bury Road to a SEND school.

The proposed school will cater for 24 children with social, emotional and mental health needs and autistic spectrum condition.

The plans would see them remove the car park and change the space into a playground, however, Lancashire County Council has raised safety concerns due to the loss of parking. In a statement provided by the local authority, the council raised an objection about the loss of the car park.

A statement from highway development control engineer, Kelly Holt said: “The surrounding streets are predominantly terraced residential housing which are heavily parked during the daytime….

Due to the proposed loss of the off-street car parking at this site, this proposal is considered to cause a significant increase in vehicles parking on the surrounding residential streets which will result in a highway safety concern.”

If approved, the school would have four classrooms, a sensory room, a games room and a rebound therapy area….

In March 2022 the Government published a Green Paper, known as the SEND review, which looks to provide better provisions for SEND pupils to thrive.

The applicant says that officials in North East Lancashire have identified the need for an SEND provision.

The planning statement said: “Hazelwood, located at the heart of the local community, is considered ideal to create high-quality SEND provision spaces, particularly for SEMH children for whom the right environment is critical….

Hazelwood, 41 Bury Road, Haslingden (Image: Google)

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