Dirty air hurting Ridgemount kids

RE: School construction woes

I would like to address the ongoing construction that commenced on June 6 at Ridgemount Elementary Public School in Hamilton.

This work was scheduled for 2015 but was tied up in "red tape." However the city of Hamilton decided to begin work while the children were still in school, knowing there was only a couple of weeks left in the school year. This construction has caused a serious amount of dirt and dust to become airborne.

The amount of dust created is not acceptable! We have many children that attend this school who have respiratory issues and this construction is seriously exacerbating them. The children are let outside to play before school, and during nutrition breaks, all the while breathing in all of this dirt and dust into their little lungs.

On the hottest day of the year (first day of Summer) the school was instructed to close the windows as well as the portables due to the incredible amount of dirt flying in the air. There was no water truck on site then or now. The temperatures indoors climbed to 40 Celsius!

Why would our city officials allow this to happen while the children are still in school? Are we not investing in our children’s future? At what expense?

I am one really ticked off Grandmother and I would like something to be done about it. There are only a few days remaining of school, surely they can stop construction until they are let out for the summer?

Cheryl Gauthier, Hamilton