2nd November 2025
Residents have raised questions about the rising costs of the Vale View School project, which saw its estimated budget increase significantly within just two months in 2005.
According to official school closure notices from October 2005, the cost of the Vale View School was stated as £5.5 million. However, by December 2005, the projected cost had risen to £7.5 million — an increase of £2 million.
Local campaigner Sheila Oliver questioned at the time why the cost rose so sharply in such a short period and has sought clear explanations from council officials ever since. “I simply asked why the costs increased, but rather than receiving a straightforward answer, I was told not to waste time and was met with hostility,” she said. The matter was declared “vexatious”.
Oliver also alleges that during a recent encounter in Romiley, Council Leader Mark Roberts reacted angrily when she raised issues again, reportedly calling her “toxic” for continuing to press for answers.
“I don’t believe raising legitimate questions about public spending is toxic,” Oliver said. “It’s about accountability and transparency. These are public funds, and residents have a right to know how they are being used.”
The concerns over the Vale View School costs form part of a broader debate about openness and scrutiny within local government. The council has been urged to provide a detailed explanation for the cost increases and to engage respectfully with residents who raise such questions.
The Romiley Gazette has contacted the council for comment on the Vale View School figures and the reported exchange in Romiley town centre.
