Committee backs re-instatment of fuel contaminated school but no guarantee on remedial work
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THE Marr area committee is to recommend that Gartly School is re-instated at a cost of £872,000 despite there being no guarantee that atmospheric contamination will be low enough for it to be used.
The school closed in December 2018 when a massive kerosene leak into the foundations caused fumes to leak into the building.
A report to a meeting on Tuesday said that atmospheric contamination levels at Gartly School were 40 times higher than at Rhynie where there was no discernible contamination.
Two years of deliberations and remedial work amounting to over £450,000 have taken place and Aberdeenshire Council's education and children's services committee had sought the opinion of the local committee on whether to commit to remedial work or go for a full appraisal of options which range from closure, a replacement school, a new and bigger school or merging with other local schools.
Parents and the wider community back the re-instatement and meeting virtually, the overall view of the committee was to send a message to the education department that the school be re-instated.
However, committee chairwoman, Councillor Moira Ingleby supported the full options appraisal, saying the education and welfare of children were paramount.
She said: "I feel we must err on the side of caution. We don't have a guarantee that it will be 100 per cent safe."
The school roll has shrunk to seven who are accommodated as a self contained entity in Rhynie School.
Parents have re-located their children during the period and the meeting was told that in each of the coming two years, four children are expected to join the roll.
Councillor Robbie Withey blamed "dithering" by the council which had made parents "give up" on Gartly School for the drop in the roll.
He said: "We will see the school roll grow again once a decision is made. I am in favour of the re-instatement, its best for the kids and for the community."
Councillor Gwyneth Petrie also backed the re-instatement and said there would always be young children in the community.
She said: "I acknowledge there are no certainties. The children are settled at Rhynie, will they be unsettled when they transfer back? "
Councillor Rosemary Bruce supported the full options appraisal and said she was very uncomfortable to commit to re-instatement if there was no guarantee that the contamination would be cleared.
She said: "There is no simple solution. There is space in Rhynie for the pupils as one entity which would make the best use of the space and have educational benefits as a temporary arrangement and not prejudice future plans."
Councillor Peter Argyll supported the full options appraisal and said: We cannot guarantee the outcome of spending a significant amount of money, we might find the school could not be occupied."
Supporting the re-instatement, Councillor John Latham said the rebuild should be made adaptable for changing circumstances.
He said: "It was a functioning, sustainable, happy school, right at the centre of the community."
The committee's recommendation will now go to the education and children's services committee.
