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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Gordon Blackstock

Council facing prosecution after primary school kids take ill amid deadly gas leak

A council could face a huge fine after dozens of kids took ill amid a carbon monoxide leak at a primary school.

Poisonous fumes escaped from a dodgy boiler in the middle of Balmuildy Primary sparking a major evacuation of around 400 staff and children.

Dozens of pupils were reported to have started vomiting before emergency services were alerted to the incident at the Bishopbriggs school, the Sunday Mail reports.

The school was closed to allow repairs to be carried out.

East Dumbartonshire Council chiefs later reported themselves to the Health and Safety Executive in the aftermath of the crisis in February 2020.

But now the investigatory body has completed its probe, with insiders claiming the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has been told to take action in the wake of the February 2020 incident.

Less than two weeks after the Balmuildy crisis, pupils at nearby Wester Cleddens Primary were ordered out after a new alarm picked up traces of carbon monoxide.

And another East Dunbartonshire school, Craigdhu Primary in Milngavie, evacuated pupils a day after when fumes were detected from a boiler room on the campus.

Insiders claim the leak at Balmuildy is likely to result in a large fine for the council.

A source said: "The council admitted it couldn't find the paperwork that rubber-stamps the use of the boiler with a safety check.

"These boilers are about 25 years old and the HSE investigation found water damage on the boiler from flooding in the last few years. That could have damaged the electrics.

"The other two boilers had the correct paperwork but, after the council put in detectors, it showed they weren't working properly. So are the boilers safe?"

The HSE said: "We submitted a report to the Crown and can't comment further."

The COPFS said: "We've received a report in relation to Balmuildy Primary School and it's under consideration."

Ann Davie, of East Dunbartonshire Council, said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on this ongoing matter but I can confirm all EDC boilers are safe, inspected and maintained in accordance with the relevant legislation."

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