By Democrat reporter
Parents and carers of pupils at a Helensburgh school have been informed that collapse-risk concrete is present in the building.
Argyll and Bute Council confirmed John Logie Baird Primary had reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) present in the building, one of a more than 30 Scottish buildings affected.
They said “mitigation” was in place – including the installation of temporary propping and the restricting of access to parts of the building – and that repairs would be undertaken in the next 12 months.
West Dunbartonshire Council have refused to take steps to inform parents and carers through The Democrat which school and other buildings, if any, are affected.
The Helensburgh primary is the only one in Argyll and Bute where the material is present and it remains open to both staff and pupils.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson told the Helensburgh Advertiser: “We can confirm that RAAC is present in some parts of John Logie Baird Primary School in Helensburgh.
“The safety of staff and pupils remains a priority and immediate measures are already in place to mitigate and reduce any concerns in affected parts of the building.
“This includes restricting access, temporary propping and ongoing monitoring. The school remains open under the mitigation measures.
“Working with consultant structural engineers, repairs to the building will take place within the next 12 months.”
The John Logie Baird school was built by the old Strathclyde Regional Council near the Drumfork Naval Estate in Helensburgh to accommodate mainly the children of Royal Navy personnel based at the Clyde Naval Base at Faslane.
That WDC are refusing to confirm if any public buildings contain RAAC should be a concern.
At best they probably don’t know the condition of their schools and at worst they are covering up.
In the school in Kent where the roof caved in it thankfully happened over a weekend.
The potential for structural failure of this material his well known. But like roads needing an upgrade you need to have some fatalities to get a section of deficient road upgraded.
That’s life unfortunately and schools are in the same boat.
Someone has to die to get the required change.