A full investigation is to be launched after Dumfries and Galloway Council was hit with a £1.8m bill for repairs to a school built 12 years ago.
The extent of the damage at Beattock Primary in Moffat and the cost to taxpayers has been described as “woeful” and “astonishing” by furious councillors.
Speaking at the latest full council meeting, Councillor David Inglis said: “I have a major issue with the fact that this school is only 12 years old and we’re having to spend heading towards £2m to rectify what appears to be design faults.
“I’m hoping that we, as a council, will do a full investigation into exactly what’s went wrong here.”
A report on extensive roof repairs at Beattock Primary revealed how an initial leak report led to the discovery of serious damage to classrooms two and three during the Easter break.
The report states: “The team encountered more extensive water damage and wood rot than expected.
“The council promptly instructed an external contractor to mobilise to site with their roofing supply chain to undertake further investigations internally and externally to understand the extent of the damage.
“Once the roof covering and the solar panels had been removed, extensive damage above classroom three was discovered that was deemed to be a health and safety risk therefore the Project Management Office leader took the decision to immediately close the school and instructed a full roof investigation to take place.”
It will now take approximately 12 months for the school roof repairs to be completed.
Paul McCulloch, the authority’s property estates manager, told councillors that there were three key issues which had amounted to the extensive damage. They were:
■ condensation within the fabric of the building because of faults in the placement of insulation;
■ poor detailing of fascias and gutters;
■ faults with solar panel fixings.
Since then, investigatory works, which have included scaffolding the whole building, have cost £200,000 – and it is estimated that the extensive repairs will cost a further £1.6m.
Councillor Andy McFarlane said: “It’s quite woeful. We have a building that’s only 12 years old and needs a new roof at a substantial cost to the people of Dumfries and Galloway.
“Is there an indemnity we can actually make a claim on – or is this burden simply going to fall on the people of Dumfries and Galloway?”
Mr McCulloch responded: “The 12-year indemnity period has passed, however we have looked at this with our legal colleagues, and I’m certainly happy to continue to see if there can be any recompense to the council. But I very much doubt it.”
Dawn Roberts, council chief executive, said: “What you have before you, members, is a recommendation that will see the replacement of the roof of Beattock School, and the arrangements are in place for the pupils to be accommodated at Moffat, with the plan for them to be relocated back once the roof is repaired.”
