ONE of two Salford high schools could be on the move. Council leaders are considering relocating either Hope or Buile Hill to the regeneration area of Langworthy and Seedley.

The schools, with Harrop Fold high school in Little Hulton, successfully bid earlier this year for £48m in Private Finance Initiative (PFI) cash.

The money is to be used to rebuild all three schools, which have 1950s buildings.

Each new building was to be constructed on playing fields at the schools.

Golden opportunity

But the ruling Labour group on the council believe the situation could be a golden opportunity to bolster the regeneration of Langworthy by moving one of the schools a mile across the city. Currently Buile Hill and Hope are just 500 yards apart, fronting Eccles Old Road.

Both are in desperate need of being replaced, as each has 11 temporary classrooms on site.

As reported in the M.E.N., Langworthy has been earmarked for a major refurbishment of 400 empty terrace homes by regeneration guru Tom Bloxham.

At a meeting of Salford council, Liberal Democrat leader Norman Owen, a Hope governor, asked the council to respond to rumours that one of the schools could be relocated.

Education spokesman Coun Keith Mann said a sub-group of the PFI steering group concerned with high schools in the city "will consider the regeneration aspect".

Spending

Council leader John Merry said: "We are talking about the most effective spending of a large amount of money that is coming into the city."

The three new schools are scheduled to be built by September, 2007.

Hope head Alan Hewitt said: "We know that after any successful PFI bid, all options have to be considered and an appraisal is taking place."

Buile Hill head Gena Merrett said: "No decisions have been made to change from the original bid. If any changes are made - and it is a huge if - I will give a comment then."

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