Dalintober wall collapse delays pupils’ return
A collapsed retaining wall in the playground at Dalintober Primary School prevented pupils from returning to the building last week.
It was the first week pupils in P1 to P3 were allowed to go back this year under Scottish Government Covid-19 guidelines.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson told the Courier: ‘As a result of a landslip on an area of land behind Dalintober, the back playground and car park were closed off and staff and pupils relocated for the week of February 15 so that a full geotechnical survey could be undertaken.
‘The school has now been fully re-opened as a result.’
It is not the first time the school has been affected by disruptions caused by issues with the building.
At a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council on Thursday June 27 2019, South Kintyre councillor Donald Kelly raised concerns about the ‘crumbling’ building. But officials said the school was ‘fit for purpose’.
In January 2020, a ceiling collapsed in one the school’s early years classrooms, something which could have resulted in a ‘tragedy’ according to a source at the school.
There have been claims the building also has a leaking roof, windows that need to be fixed or replaced and heating which does not work properly. Councillor Kelly told the Courier this week: ‘Last year, when the ceiling collapsed within the school, the council agreed with my request for a full condition survey of the school to be carried out. I have written to the director of education, Douglas Hendry, asking for a copy of this report.
‘The time has come for the council to engage with the community regarding the possibility of a new Campbeltown primary school.’
A council spokesperson said that the condition survey of the school was carried out last year as planned.
This week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced all remaining primary school children should return to school full-time from March 15, with secondary pupils returning on a part-time basis from that date.