Call for probe over school f laws

EDUCATION Secretary John Swinney has condemned contractors after a new school was closed over safety fears.

The North West Community Campus in Dumfries has shut twice since opening last month after one pupil was injured by a faulty door and another by a falling whiteboard.

The £28million facility has also suffered a leak and a collapsed ceiling in recent weeks, with MSPs now calling for an inquiry into the incidents.

Yesterday, Conservative MSP Finlay Carson told the Scottish parliament that parents were ‘demanding answers’ over the closures – as he urged Mr Swinney to launch a probe into contractors and the signing-off process.

Mr Swinney refused to commit to a public inquiry but claimed an ‘investigation’ would take place to establish what had gone wrong.

The Deputy First Minister also hit out at contractor Graham and said it would be held to account by Dumfries and Galloway council.

Mr Carson said: ‘We have seen ceilings collapse, a door injuring a child after coming off its rails and the latest incident saw a child hit by a falling electronic whiteboard.’

He said this had come despite assurances ‘far greater levels of checks’ than normal had been carried out.

Mr Swinney confirmed there would be ‘senior’ talks between the contractor and the council this week to thrash out the problems.