Testing times as school probe starts

Environmental testing is being carried out at the St Ambrose and Buchanan high schools campus as part of the Scottish Government review into health concerns at the site.

Scottish Water is to examine the supply at the Townhead location – which prompted concerns after running blue earlier in the year – while tests will also be carried out on its soil, water and methane membrane, installed as a safety measure ahead of construction on the former landfill site.

The work has been recommended by the independent review team, led by chief planning reporter Paul Cackette and public health specialist Dr Margaret Hannah; who are now determining test locations and details with SEPA and environmental health bodies.

News of the development has been welcomed by both union officials and local politicians – with the test results due to be published before staff return for the new term on August 12, two days ahead of pupils.

Concerns about any potential health impact of the site have escalated in the past month after four teachers at the campus were diagnosed with the same rare form of bladder cancer, while Plains mum Josie Morgan last month told the Advertiser how her son Tommi had lost his sight shortly after starting at Buchanan High last August, with arsenic levels in his system being nearly three times the normal figure.

Review team members have also met Nor th Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire officials, plus parents, pupils and staff, and are “considering documents and other materials submitted to them”.

The tests have been welcomed by union officials from NASUWT, whose members at both Coatbridge

“NASUWT looks forward to receiving the results of these tests as swiftly as possible, and will consider the findings in consultation with members.”

Fulton MacGregor, the town’s MSP, said: “This situation has been left to rumble on for far too long, so parents, pupils and staff will be delighted to see that the independent review is getting a grip of the situation.

“I’m pleased that the review is wasting no time in getting to the bottom of this situation, and already taking steps to addre s s serious health and safety concerns.”

“I hope this will help determine exactly what’s going on with respect to the health concerns under investigation, as there’s a clear need to discover the source given the number of parents reporting similar issues and illnesses that teachers are experiencing.

“It is simply not enough to say there is no link to the schools; the source has to be established and eliminated.”

The review was established by deputy first minister John Swinney after hundreds of concerned parents attended a public meeting about health concerns at the schools.

It will look at the histor y, construction and maintenance of the seven- year- old campus,

This situation has been left to rumble on for far too long

Protest Teachers from the campus took strike action last month