Five-figure bill as schools hit by vandalism

COUNCIL: Repairs include fixing fire damage, windows and a baby grand piano

Almost £22,000 of council taxpayers’ money was spent fixing Perth and Kinross schools damaged by vandals in just over a year.

Insurance claims paid for another £11,000 of repairs at schools in the region.

In total, 115 incidents at primary and secondary schools, including teaching sections of community campuses, were reported between February 2019 and when schools closed in March.

The most expensive repairs were to fire-damaged Perth schools which were targeted last July. Police were called in to help track down the firebugs who targeted Oakbank Primary and Viewlands Primary, just metres apart and within 48 hours of each other.

Glaziers, roofers and scaffolders were all called in to deal with a string of blazes at Perth schools. Most of these bills were paid by insurance firms.

However, the local authority had to dip into its coffers to pay for more than 50 broken or cracked windows.

One repair, which cost more than £450, was handled with urgency as staff reported broken glass was strewn across the roof of the unnamed building, where it was reported children often play.

Dealing with graffiti, damaged walls, doors, CCTV and fire extinguishers made up the majority of the costs.

At Loch Leven Campus in Kinross, council bosses paid more than £600 last year to repair a baby grand piano and another £815 to repair flooring which “pupils attempted to burn either with (an) aerosol or naked flame”.

At one unnamed school, council bosses were billed £1,800 to repair vandalised wet-wall.

Council bosses have urged anyone who witnesses vandals in the act to contact the police.

A spokesperson said: “Vandalism can affect the use and enjoyment of public buildings... the cost of repairs places an additional burden on the public purse.

“As well as responding quickly to reports of vandalism on our properties, the council is also vigilant in making regular checks to our buildings to ensure they are kept safe and any damage is repaired as soon as possible.”

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart said “everyone loses out” when acts of anti-social behaviour are committed.

The Conservative said: “I absolutely condemn any sort of vandalism. Council funds are already critically stretched and repairs of this nature are a further waste of valuable resources.”

Fire crews at Viewlands Primary in Perth – the building was targeted by fireraisers last July.