Calls for Lanarkshire schools to be shutdown amid contaminated water scandal

Parents and politicians are calling for two Lanarkshire schools to be shut down to allow a full investigation into how water got contaminated.

Earlier this year we revealed the discovery of copper in the supply to the campus shared by St Ambrose and Buchanan High and how children have been complaining of sickness, headaches and stomach aches.

There is also reports several teacher have become seriously unwell.

More than 400 parents were at a public meeting in Coatbridge last night.

Lisa McCormack has withdrawn her 13 year-old son from school and is looking into alternative arrangements for him.

She said: "The council have to go away and have a serious think. They also have to seriously take into consideration what we've said.

"They need to take action. They need to test staff and children and they need to do testing on the school so that we can feel confidence that we are sending our children to learn in a safe environment."

Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor said: "I think parents have certainly lost confidence in the process that went into building the school and have lost faith in what council are saying has caused the blue water issues.

"Parents can be reassured that myself and colleagues will be taken this to both Parliament's and calling for a full review ot be undertaken. My preference would be that the council and the health board be compelled to do that review or commission that review. If not I will be asking the Scottish Government to step in."

Airdrie MP Neil Grey said: "A number of parents came up to me after the meeting and said they would struggle to send their kids back to school after this and being a parent myself I can completely understand that.

"Another issue that was raised was about a further investigation. There is clearly a need for this and for it to have the confidence of the parents it is clear they need to be involved in this process so I hope that can come about as quickly as possible."

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said, “Understandably some parents, staff and community members came to last night’s meeting with genuine concerns. Senior council officers and a consultant in public health medicine provided facts.

“The school is safe. The action taken by the council to address the issue of blue water has been resolved, the site on which the school campus is built has met national and international standards of remediation and public health experts have confirmed that there is no link between blue water, the site itself and cancer or indeed any other serious illness.