Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site
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wildgarlic
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The state of our schools | Quote: | Three-quarters of the schools in Aberdeenshire and half the schools in Aberdeen have asbestos in them, it has emerged.
Figures obtained by the Press and Journal under freedom of information legislation show that most schools in the north-east are affected.
All asbestos found in schools is monitored closely by councils but an MP called last night for urgent investment in school buildings.
Of the 171 educational buildings in Aberdeenshire, 115 are on the council's asbestos register, while 37 of Aberdeen's 79 school buildings were found to have asbestos of some kind in them.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and resistant to fire. It was used extensively as a building material in Britain from the 50s to the mid-80s.
The thin fibres can break down into much smaller, thinner fibres that cannot be seen but can be inhaled. The fibres are dangerous only if they become airborne and are breathed in. All types of asbestos can be dangerous, although most people are exposed to low levels of the mineral in the atmosphere with no ill effects.
It generally poses a danger only to those disturbing it, such as tradesmen.
Aberdeenshire Council said: "The asbestos within our schools is managed by professionally qualified asbestos surveyors with a programme to remove asbestos identified as high risk."
Aberdeen City Council said: "Of the 79 school properties surveyed, 42 were identified as having asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) present. Of these 42 properties, removal of all or some of the ACMs was recommended in 26.
"The risk assessment in the other 16 recommended either treatment of all or some of the ACMs to reduce the risk and a regime of regular monitoring of the condition of the ACM to ensure the identified risk has not changed.
"Where the risk has changed, then an amended management decision is taken to address noted changes. At present, a phased programme of works to encapsulate or remove asbestos-containing materials, where recommended, is ongoing and monitoring is currently being undertaken on an annual basis."
So, far asbestos has been removed from five of the properties identified.
Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce said: "While these figures are not welcomed, they are not surprising because most school buildings currently in use in the north-east were built at a time where asbestos was commonly used in building materials.
"The north-east is in need of a substantial investment in its schools and this figure reinforces the fact this needs to be brought forward as quickly as possible," he added.
The full extent of disrepair and overcrowding in north-east schools was revealed last month, with just one in five of them across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire deemed to be up to standard.
Only 26 of the 171 school buildings in Aberdeenshire and 21 in Aberdeen were rated "good" or "satisfactory" in a national survey by the Scottish Executive.
The shire had 132 primaries and 13 secondaries ranked "poor" or "bad", while the city had 35 primaries and 11 secondaries in these categories. |
P&J
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labrat
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I'm pleasantly surprised that the P&J have produced an accurate and well tempered article about asbestos risks. Makes a change to sensational and reactionary newspaper articles elsewhere. So long as council have a program of continual asbestos removal then fair enough.
The general state of schools is not a surprise but will take many years to rectify if they take it seriously and start now.
cheers
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DiddleDeDum
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This is a particular interest of mine - however Aberdeenshire Council need lots of central government dosh to improve schools, there is no way they can find that sort of money themselves - hope the SNP government are more generous than the last one
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