Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
TALKING POLITICS Council must act on review’s findings
The team behind the independent review into the Buchanan and St Ambrose high schools campus have made their conclusions and recommendations and concluded that the schools are safe.
The review did, however, find some issues with toxins in the soil, water and air quality and the council have remediated and actioned these issues upon the pupils’ return to the campus.
The most important thing for the moment is that the council ensures that it follows the recommendations of the report and resolves any issues quickly. This includes the establishment of a site recovery group so that lessons are learned and future concerns are handled appropriately.
The education of pupils within the campus is everyone’s top priority.
The teacher’s union NASUWT have considered the review group’s report, supporting documentation and current test data; they have also considered the answers given to a series of questions posed to North Lanarkshire Council and met with a number of experts in order to gain advice on the remedial action being taken on the campus.
This has proved beneficial, in terms of reassuring their members and the public that it is safe to return to work.
I have written to Depute First Minister John Swinney to clarify some issues and recommendations from the report; I am grateful for his input and thoughts on these matters of great importance to people in my constituency.
On another note, I had the privilege of attending this year’s Gartsherrie club annual fundraising event. A fantastic £1058 was raised for the fabulous Bumblebee Babies and it was great to meet some of the team and hear how they are supporting families throughout Scotland.
I would also like to commend the fantastic efforts of Glenboig and Our Lady and St Joseph’s primaries, who have been collecting hundreds of items to make donations to the Coatbridge community foodbank, especially during the increased demand for emergency food packages.
St Ambrose High also took part in the Scottish mental health arts festival held in Lanarkshire; many of the pupils showcased work conducted in the school’s “healthy minds” course and represented the school at the North Lanarkshire Council pupil council session.
Over the summer recess I have held many street surgeries, and public engagement events, on a range of issues; constituents should feel free to contact me about any matter.