Coatbridge school campus is safe, says report
Last updated 9th Aug 2019
The independent review of the Buchanan and St Ambrose High School campus in Coatbridge has concluded the schools are safe and there is no link between the school and illness reported among staff and pupils.
The Scottish Government asked them to look into claims pupils and staff had been experiencing headaches and sickness, and parents' belief it was linked to the building being sited on top of a former industrial landfill.
The main findings of the report:
- water samples all pass drinking water quality standards. The review recommends North Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Water should further sample water in the coming months to address some minor quality issues
- the methane membrane under the school building was installed correctly and no landfill related gases were detected at that time and now
- fifty soil samples were taken from soft landscaped areas, fifteen from raised beds and tested for various contaminants. The concentrations measured in soils, with the exception of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at one location, are not of concern
- elevated levels of PCB were found in one sample pit on the periphery of the site. The review recommends North Lanarkshire Council completes a full and independently verified removal of the chemical as soon as possible
- the review recommends a site recovery group, made up of site users and community leaders, to provide an open and transparent channel for any concerns to be raised regarding the well-being of those on the campus
"The schools are safe, the site is safe and there is no link" - Dr Margaret Hannah.
The report says that if the work at that sample pit is being done by North Lanarkshire Council, and independently verified, they would be happy for the schools to open next week.
Public health consultant Dr Margaret Hannah, who co-led the review, said: “Many people were concerned about possible health risks from the previous use of the campus site. We listened carefully to the concerns of parents and teachers and worked with various experts in their field to determine the areas to test within the campus.
“Our principal finding is that the schools are safe, the site is safe and there is no link between the school and the reported health issues. However, we have made recommendations for some work to be carried out in order to provide further public reassurance.
“One of our recommendations includes convening a site recovery group to provide an open channel to share information and allow any concerns to be raised regarding the well-being of those on the campus. Working together is key to restoring public confidence and we hope our findings will help all the communities in Coatbridge and beyond work towards common goals and in the best interests of the pupils and staff.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I am grateful to the Review Team for their work over the last two months. This has been a complex and challenging set of circumstances to review in such a short timescale.
“The report provides reassurance to parents, pupils and staff of the school that there are no links between ill-health and the campus.
“The review also finds, however, that North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire did not handle this issue at all well. They did not engage with parents sufficiently early or in an inclusive manner. The recommendations will ensure statutory bodies engage far more proactively with parents, staff and pupils to rebuild the trust and learn lessons from this for the future.
“Children should enjoy school life and I hope this is the case for pupils at Buchanan and St Ambrose High Schools.
Robert Steenson, executive director for enterprise and communities at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are pleased that the independent review agrees with the council’s position throughout, which is that the schools are safe and that there is no link between the schools and any serious illness. The review also finds that the council and NHS took the concerns of parents and staff seriously.
“We look forward to welcoming pupils back for the start of the term next week to what are outstanding, high-performing schools with enthusiastic and dedicated staff.”
Mr Steenson added: “The independent review’s report contains a number of recommendations which the council, working with parents, pupils, staff and members of the wider school community, will implement. Indeed, we have already begun to do so.
“The report also contains learning points for the council and we will reflect on these as we work through the detail of the report.
“In particular, the council fully accepts that the issue of blue water on the site – although harmless in terms of health – could have been dealt with at an earlier stage. However, all pipework has now been replaced and water fully complies with drinking quality standards. While swift action was taken to replace all pipework carrying drinking water when senior management became fully aware of the issue late last year, we have already revised our reporting systems to ensure matters of concern are consistently and swiftly dealt with.
“The review also makes clear that the council’s detailed and careful actions to assess the site before construction took place and the subsequent work were reasonable, appropriate and proportionate. In the case of the gas membrane, the experts engaged by the independent review make it clear that the level of protection designed was beyond that required.
“While the review states that the quality of the written information provided to parents was of a high quality, questions are raised about the timeliness of the council’s response and engagement with staff and trade unions. All communications will be internally reviewed to ascertain what lessons can be learned.”
The council’s full assessment of all the key points of the review will be considered by the Policy and Strategy Committee in the coming weeks.
All relevant services of the council were engaged with the review team and provided full cooperation throughout. Mr Steenson said: “The review team have done an enormous amount of work. We are pleased that the review clearly states that the council and its officers have acted throughout with the best interests and health and safety of parents, staff and pupils at the heart of their actions.
“The council is extremely grateful for the input of colleagues from multiple agencies. In particular, the support from NHS Lanarkshire has been exemplary and the review is explicit that their actions were correct in respect of the public heath investigation.
“We know that Buchanan and St Ambrose High Schools are hugely valued by pupils, parents, staff and the wider community. All concerned can be assured by the key findings of the report and we will now focus on working with all these groups as we look to a bright future for Buchanan and St Ambrose High Schools."
Mr Gabe Docherty, Director of Public Health at NHS Lanarkshire, welcomed the reassurance that the report provides. He said, “We welcome the publication of the independent report today that provides a clear reassurance that the schools are safe to attend.
“We recognise that this has been a difficult period for everyone involved with the schools and we welcome the schools opening next week to start their new school year. These are highly regarded, highly valued schools which also make a significant contribution to the wider community they serve. It’s vital that school life returns to normal as soon as possible and this report provides the peace-of-mind to enable that to happen.
“We have actively engaged with those directly involved and the wider school community throughout our investigations and will continue to do so.
“The report also recognises that there is a role for local community leaders, the council and the health board to work together on this. We remain committed to working with all partners to provide the support and reassurance required around public health to enable the school to move forward positively and confidently."
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