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6th January 2026
By: Your Local Watchdog Reporter
Stockport residents are still questioning how decisions were made after the new primary school on Harcourt Street opened in 2011, amid lingering concerns about transparency and safety.
Local resident and school funding watchdog, Sheila Oliver, requested evidence that parents in North Reddish supported the Harcourt Street site. The council’s FOI response revealed a startling fact: parents were never directly consulted. Instead, the council “formed the opinion” that parents preferred a school in North Reddish because, according to them, the only feasible site was Harcourt Street.
No questions, no votes, no surveys—just an assumption backed by indirect pupil data: 149 children from the Fir Tree priority area were already attending North Reddish schools, while 114 remained at Fir Tree Primary.
Critics say using existing pupil distribution as a proxy for parental preference is circumstantial at best. The FOI officer confirmed: “These comments were not minuted … therefore the Council cannot provide you with any recorded information in response to this request.” In other words, there is no documented evidence that parents supported the site.
Adding to the controversy, the Harcourt Street site sat on a toxic minefield, raising concerns about safety for the hundreds of children who have now attended the school since it opened.
Mrs. Oliver commented, “Decisions were made on assumptions, not evidence. Families deserve genuine consultation—especially when safety is at stake.”
Romiley residents are now asking: how was Harcourt Street chosen, why were parents not asked, and what environmental safeguards were put in place before opening the school in 2011?
The Gazette will continue to follow the story, holding the council accountable for past decisions and highlighting the importance of transparency and community involvement in projects affecting local children.
Romiley Gazette – shining a light on local matters, one document at a time.
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Thu 06/09/2007 14:43
Our Reference: FOI 658
Dear Mrs Oliver,
Freedom of Information – Parents of North Reddish
I am writing in response to your request for information received by the Council on 7th August 2007, in which you request:
“evidence that the parents of North Reddish want the school to go on the Harcourt Street site”
As you are aware there was no specific question on the consultation paper for the local community regarding the school being built on the Harcourt Street site. The Council formed the opinion, following discussions, that the stakeholders wanted the school to be built on a site in North Reddish. As stated in the consultation paper the only feasible site was that at Harcourt Street.
We also have evidence to indicate that a significant number of parents who live in the Fir Tree School Priority Area actually choose to send their children, to North Reddish schools. In 2007 149 pupils who lived in Fir Tree priority area actually went to the two north reddish schools, whereas 114 pupils who lived in Fir tree priory area went to Fir Tree primary school. The attached map shows this in detail.
These comments were not minuted as you aware from reading the documents therefore the Council cannot provide you with any recorded information in response to this request.
If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request, you are entitled to ask for an internal review. This will be carried out by a senior member of staff who was not involved with your original request. To do so, please contact foi.officer@stockport.gov.uk or the address below in the first instance
FOI Officer
Town Hall
Edward Street
Stockport
SK1 3XE.
