WOODHEY High School is to finally get the key to the door of a new assembly hall - after a 21 year wait.

The Bolton Road West school is to receive a £400,000 windfall over the next two years to build a school hall.

Lack of cash over the last two decades has resulted in the Ramsbottom school using the sports hall for assemblies, concerts, functions and exams.

Local ward councillors and members of the school's governing body have spent years battling for finance to provide the hall. The break through came this year when Bury's Labour Council bosses announced it had secured Government funding to signal the end of Ramsbottom longest running campaigns.

The cash injection, however, caused a political row before May's local elections when Tory chiefs accused Labour of underhand electioneering tactics by making promises it couldn't keep. Bury's Conservative group leader Councillor David Higgin said at the time: "I am delighted that the school will get the hall, but there are questions that need answering such as what guarantees do the council have that the balance for this and other projects will be paid.

"How can the council sign a contract for £400,000 when at this moment they only have £200,000 in their pocket."

Labour fought back saying the money for the project was being provided under the basic credit approval scheme where the Government gives permission for councils to borrow money.

Despite the political row, the school is this week celebrating after planning chiefs gave the school assembly development their full approval on Wednesday night.

Woodhey's new head teacher Mr Martin Braidly said: "As a school community we are delighted to have this facility after 21 years.

"The new hall will be of great benefit for assemblies, examinations, drama and music. We are very grateful to the LEA."

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