The conversion of Little Lever Health Centre into a special school was given the green light by Bolton Council.

The applicant, Educ8, applied for planning permission for the site on Mytham Road on October 6 of last year.

A matter of months earlier Little Lever Health Centre switched to its new premises on Market Street which it shared with the library. The conversion of its old premises into a special school for children on the autism spectrum was a cause for concern for some residents on the road and for the primary school across the road due to its impact on traffic at the time of arrival and pick-up.

At Planning Committee this week Lee Cambray, a headteacher for Educ8, said the plan would ease some of the pressure on places at specialist schools which are up to a shortfall of more than 400.

ALSO READ: Breightmet: Approval for transformation of ex-joinery.

Mr Cambray said: "There was some concern for Mytham Primary School, however, we have addressed this with the headteacher Mrs [Angela] Bogle and we have addressed this in our Travel Plan.

"We want to be a part of the local community, to employ local residents, and to make a difference to the lives of young people because our vision is to develop resilient and responsible young people who aspire to achieve their potential in life."

The Bolton News:

A report for consideration by the Planning Committee said the balance between the impact on traffic and the pressure on places at specialist schools was in favour of the approval of the application.

A motion for the approval of the application was passed unanimously.

ALSO READ: Westhoughton: Plan for more than a dozen homes thrown out.

Anne Galloway, a councillor for Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, said: "The key issue was the parking and the traffic because as we all know the schools are a nightmare in the morning and this is close to Mytham Primary School. There was some concern but I think the applicants have proven they have taken it on board and with the staggered arrival times and pick-up times it should be mitigated. 

"So subject to the monitoring to see how it goes I hope there are not any big issues around parking and traffic."

Andy Morgan, another councillor for Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor, said: "We need to remember it was a health centre prior to this."

"There was traffic coming and going all day never mind at peak times."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.