Caerphilly County Borough Council is appealing to the Welsh Government for emergency funding to help it clear asbestos from Cwmcarn High School.
The findings of a new report, commissioned by the school leadership, reveals a long list of works needed to address the major asbestos contamination at the site before pupils and staff can safely return to Cwmcarn.
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, the council’s cabinet member for education, said: “Further to our ongoing discussions with Welsh Government, I am writing to the Minister for Education and Skills to appeal for appropriate funds to help us resolve this issue as a matter of urgency.
“The management report, undertaken by asbestos specialists Ensafe, highlights a catalogue of asbestos removal and remediation works totalling more that £1million, as well as other much-needed structural improvements which could raise the cost to around £1.5million.
“The council and the whole school community are united in our desire to agree a way forward in the best interests of all concerned. We took a very difficult decision to temporarily close the school back in October 2012, but the scale and cost of the asbestos works needed to make the school safe vindicates our decision to protect the health and wellbeing of the pupils and staff.”
The authority is now considering the report and analysing the estimated costings. Members will be asked to agree a way forward in the near future.