£450k more to deal with school asbestos

More asbestos has been found at a school undergoing a major £1.5million refurbishment.

The Towers School and Sixth Form Centre in Ashford requires further enhanced improvement works, to the tune of £450,000 from the UK public purse.

It comes after new surveys found “unstable” internal walls at the Faversham Road school and “additional asbestos”.

County councillor Clair Bell (Con), who represents the area, supported the proposals.

She said: “Given the pressure on school places in Ashford and increased costs resulting from Covid-19, the allocation of this additional funding to complete the science classroom refurbishment project at The Towers seems to be a sensible way forward.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000. It can cause fatal and serious diseases, including lung cancer.

At the Towers School, costs of the project are increasing significantly to make the site a safer environment to study in.

Redesigns have been required, following further surveys. Internal walls will be replaced and repairs made to roof leakages.

The project will support the addition of science classrooms, helping the school accommodate 27 more pupils in Year 7 and 135 places in total.

It comes as school rolls have risen significantly over the last 10 years.

Temporary provision has been added at The Towers School in each of the last three academic years.

The school will continue to enroll more new students until the opening of Chilmington Green Secondary School, which has been delayed until the 2023/24 academic year.

A funding agreement is in place between KCC and The Towers. Officers have recommended extra cash be invested, which would bring the total cost of the project from about £1.55million to £2million.

A KCC report says: “When the scheme was originally costed, extensive and intrusive surveys were not possible due to the block being occupied by pupils.

“When possible, additional surveys were conducted. Additional asbestos was found and the internal walls were deemed unstable.”

It adds: “The cost of reconfiguration of the science facilities has increased and additional funding will be required to complete the project.

“The cost increase is due to both the Covid pandemic and essential redesigns. A further £450,000 will be required.”

No final date for completion of the works has been publicly released.

KCC’s education committee this week advised the school refurbishment works go ahead, subject to cabinet member approval.