Primary school deemed to be ‘safe’

FIVE newly-built schools in Argyll and Bute, including Oban Primary, have now been certified as ‘safe’ following a BBC investigation into a wall collapse at Oxgangs Primary in Edinburgh last year.

Nine tonnes of bricks were blown from the city school wall during Storm Gertrude’s 70mph winds in January, miraculously not causing injury to pupils.

Edinburgh City Council closed 17 schools in the capital for a safety inspection, which identified problems with wall and header ties holding exterior and interior walls together.

At least 72 schools across 15 Scottish local authority areas were found to have similar defects, including five in Argyll and Bute, which have now been repaired, the council said.

A spokesperson explained: ‘Following visual and intrusive surveys of the council’s school estate of Oban Primary campus, Lochgilphead joint campus, Dunoon Grammar, Rothesay joint campus and Hermitage Academy, remedial works were carried out to certain areas in regard to wall and header ties and completed in summer 2016.

‘This work was carried out by the council’s project partner, ABC Schools Limited, and all occupied areas were confirmed safe for use by an independent structural engineer.’