Cwmcarn High School has been closed until further notice because of an asbestos scare.
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council has said the local authority cannot reveal further details, although he did issue the following statement.
“Due to a structural report which has been received today, the Authority is taking immediate and decisive action to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff at the school.
“As of today (Friday October 12) the school building will be closed for further detailed asbestos investigation. Although we appreciate that this action will cause concern and inconvenience to parents, I am sure you will appreciate that the safety of pupils and staff at the school is of paramount importance. The school will be closed until further notice and we will communicate with you any further updates with regard to the investigation and the arrangements for the pupils.”
As a parent of two children at Cwmcarn High School, I am disgusted at the way this has been handled. A part of the school has been closed off for weeks because of dust in the area, and now in the most important time of year 11 and pupils in 6th form they now decide to close the school without any provisions for pupils. When I attended the school 1980-1985 there was always talk of asbestos, but the school was never closed. Does the council/independant examiners not work during the Summer holidays, when this could have been brought to light????
I am very anxious to find out how long the school will be shut for and/or where i will be going
Amy Tompkins Age 12
Or, who new about this situation and when they knew?
How long have officers been involved in trying to sort out the issues, what politicians knew about it and when did they know?. Have past Cabinet Members for Education been consulted on this very serious situation? if so who, altogether, were consulted.
If no-one knew about this situation until know that is a very serious concern in that the Caerphilly council employ a large number of surveyors, property managers, experts in the field of public health, and, in the case of schools, school governors, most of whom are local Councillors, and if Ann-Marie and her friends knew about this issue in the 80`s where have all these people been for goodness sake.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows about the serious long term effects of inhaling asbestos dust, someone will have to take responsibility for this situation and for the current disruption to the education of the children of the school.