Education / Dunrossness Parent Council accuses SIC of series of failures over demolition plans
Group calls for planned construction works to be put on hold immediately
DUNROSSNESS Parent Council has accused Shetland Islands Council (SIC) of a catalogue of failures in a lengthy and extremely critical document sent to Shetland News.
The group has claimed the SIC has made “biased recommendations to councillors” in a bid to push through the unpopular demolition of temporary buildings at the Dunrossness Primary School.
Parents heavily criticised the SIC last month after it was revealed the demolition of two temporary buildings was due to take place during term time.
Strong concerns were raised about the effect noise, dust and traffic would have on pupils.
Now, in a seven-page release sent to Shetland News, Dunrossness Parent Council has accused the SIC of failing to follow correct procedure, and of failing to communicate and engage with the local community.
It has said they believe councillors have “failed to undertake due diligence on council recommendations” and “failed to follow their democratic process”.
The parent council has urged councillors to meet immediately and to consider all information available before the demolition can go ahead – with work due to begin on Monday.
It is pushing for the demolition to be put on hold and for a full cost-benefit analysis to be undertaken on whether repair is more cost-effective than demolition.
And its members want councillors and SIC officials to make a site visit to the school to see the wider concerns being raised by parents.
The parent council estimates that the demolition of the two buildings, constructed on a ‘temporary’ basis in the 1970s, and refurbishment of a pool room could cost the SIC £150,000.
“It is impossible to see how this can be the best value option, when the costs of repairing the existing classrooms, which already provide the appropriate spaces required, is less than the costs of demolishing and renovating the pool room,” it has said.
A lack of space for teachers and pupils, and a lack of toilets, are among the concerns being raised by the group.
“Staff feel abandoned in an inappropriate school environment and pupil satisfaction surveys have shown a significant decline over the past year,” it said.
“Staff and pupils are making the best of a bad situation, but we are all deeply concerned about the lack of suitable learning environments for all bairns at the school, now and in the future.”
It claims that there is insufficient space in one of the temporary huts for every child in one class to sit down.
The group says there are “widespread health and safety and wellbeing concerns”, particularly with regard to safeguarding, with one class currently.
And it has said that there are insufficient toilets in the remainder of the school building to meet Scottish Government regulations.
The parent council has also strongly criticised the lack of engagement and communication from the SIC during the last year.
It claimed that “at least four formal complaints” have been made to the SIC over the past eight months about the situation.
These have all been “closed out without providing evidence to alleviate the concerns raised within the complaints,” it said.
“We will be raising our dissatisfaction in the handling of the parent council complaint with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman but feel the wider democratic process has also failed.”
And they believe that council officials have “advised councillors not to meet” to review the demolition decision because a contract has been awarded.
“We are seeing council officers, who are meant to be public servants, dictating to elected members, who are trying to represent their communities, to ignore the views of their community, and to ignore the democratic processes available to them,” it says.
“This intimidatory and bullying behaviour is hugely concerning.
“We have seen a lack of transparency continually throughout our attempts to work with SIC staff on this issue. We have seen councillors seeking to protect council officers above their duty to represent their communities.
“Our councillors have failed to correctly follow the democratic process, to represent the views of their communities, and to carry out due diligence on council work.”
Shetland Islands Council has been approached for comment in relation to the claims made by the parent council.
SIC learning estate manager Neil Beattie told Shetland News last month that the safety of pupils was “of paramount importance” during the planned works.
“We understand some parents would have preferred the demolition to take place entirely during the school holidays,” he said.
“Beginning this first phase earlier will help accelerate the overall refurbishment programme for the school.
“The contractor has extensive experience working on live school sites, and the arrangements in place are specifically designed to minimise disruption and to ensure pupil and public safety at all times.”
Beattie said the working area will be “completely sealed off from the school” with fencing at a minimum height of 2.4 metres.
And deliveries of plant and materials will “avoid school pick-up and drop-off times by at least 15 minutes, as agreed with the school”.
However, the learning estate manager admitted that “some noise is unavoidable”.
Beattie added a full update on the work has been shared with parents, carers and staff, and said anyone with any concerns should contact the SIC directly.
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