Mary Scanlon continues the campaign against asbestos in Nairn Academy and other Highland schools

Donald Wilson again with the latest on Mary Scanlon's drive to get the Scottish Government to do more on asbestos in our schools:

'Tory MSP Mrs Scanlon said: "The report confirms the concerns raised by the Highland News Group.
"I'm glad the Westminster Government are now looking at this issue and I will be asking the Scottish Government to look at it because I don't believe councils are treating this matter seriously enough."

Another good investigate piece on this controversial subject on the Highland News site this week.

Asbestos in Nairn Academy - MSP Mary Scanlon on the case

Mary Scanlon mentioned Nairn Academy in debate at Holyrood yesterday:

'“The concerns over asbestos in Highland schools have been high on the political agenda for some time,” she said.

“Only last year, contractors in Nairn Academy dislodged asbestos flakes, and back in 2007 teachers had to stop using drawing pins for fear of disrupting asbestos.”

The state of the structure of Wick Academy had also been questioned and raised on numerous occasions in the Scottish Parliament, she said.'

More on the Press and Journal: Council urged to face up to asbestos danger

Asbestos in schools - why Highland Council was reluctant to come clean!

The Highland News has been continuing its investigation into asbestos in Highland Schools and in a leader comment now published on line they state:

'But this week the Highland News appears to have uncovered why the local authority has been so reluctant to come clean on the issue.

An on-going investigation by the HN has now learned that a notice has been slapped on the council by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), ordering it to get its act together.

The HSE instruction giving the council a year to improve its record-keeping to reduce the risk from the potentially deadly material was actually served as far back as May - it appears after a major scare at Nairn Academy - and has been kept under wraps.'

All those concerned about this problem should read the rest of the HN's leader comment. More later.

Pages two and three of the HN contain details of Donald Wilson’s ongoing investigation. Well worth a read, here’s a short excerpt:

One council insider said: “The background is over a number of issues, not least the recent asbestos scares at Nairn Academy and Kinguisse High School. There is also concern about contractors going into plant rooms in all council buildings were there is a lot of asbestos.

These notices are not served at the drop of a hat. To reach the stage of an Improvement Notice is a serious state of affairs which would suggest the council has not been bothering its backside about the regulations governing asbestos…’

Asbestos in Highland Schools

Remember the controversy recently when Nairn Academy had to be shut following an asbestos square. In this week's Highland News Donald Wilson takes a look at the current situation across the Highlands.

'HIGHLAND Council doesn't know where asbestos is lurking in 123 of its schools.
And this week the local authority refused to reveal schools involved, despite repeated requests from the Highland News.
The shock figure is revealed in documents being issued by the council to firms for "asbestos management" in 197 schools across the region and has worried politicians and a health campaigner.'

More from the article here and the paper also devotes its leader column to the issue.

Asbestos in schools, more worrying information

Carole Hagerdon is a teacher dying from mesothelioma, contracted after 'working in schools for 34 years', according to the Times website. She recently spoke on the subject to the Nasuwt teaching union conference. The interview with her carries some worrying statistics. It is easy to be accused of scaremongering on this issue but the Gurn recommends that those interested in the subject read the article for themselves. Asbestos in schools is an issue that won't go away.

Here are a selection of previous Gurn articles that mention the situation at Nairn Academy.

UPDATE: comment received from 'concerned parent'.

'Carole Hagerdon is a very brave individual to speak out the way she has done. It is only through people like her who is facing the inevitable dreadful consequences of her exposure to this deadly material that politicians will be made to listen to the evidence which appears to be more compelling by the day that there is a risk to our children and school staff.The Gurn points out that the media can be accused of scaremongering but rightly recommends those interested read the article for themselves and reach their own conclusions. Let's not apologise for people trying to better educate themselves about issues concerning the health of their children and indeed the people in whose care they are entrusted.We all need to take this issue seriously and not brush it under the carpet which is what the government would wish us to do. '

Academy clean could cost tens of thousands

The Highland News has done a follow-up on the asbestos scare at Nairn Academy. It seems the clean-up will cost tens of thousands and the paper says that there was no insurance cover. More details here.

........Opinion Poll
What do you think? Do you feel that the Academy is a safe building? You can vote over on the Gurn on Sunday Opinion Poll - you'll find it in the side-bar on the right hand side at the top of the page