Parents claim teachers at a “danger zone” Dumfries school have suffered electric shocks from faulty wiring.
And that the kitchen at the premises was forced to close because of an invasion of rats.
They are now calling on the council to close Loreburn Primary as soon as possible before a child is injured.
In a complaint to education bosses, the parent council insists: “The school is no longer safe for our children and the staff.”
Vice chairwoman Heidi Wu, whose three children attend Loreburn, said: “Rats within the school causing the kitchen to be closed, part of the ceiling falling down in the girls toilets and multiple teachers receiving shocks has
pushed us to breaking point.
“This school is no longer safe for our children and the staff. Something needs to be done as soon as possible.
“Is it honestly going to take a child being injured or worse for the council to take action on the only town centre school?”
The school was part of phase two of the Learning Town project which would see a partial refurbishment of Dumfries Academy for £16.5m and the relocation of Loreburn Primary into the Minerva building there at a cost of £7.12m.
The programme, which also includes a new £48m Dumfries High, has been put on hold due to Covid and works are scheduled to commence next year, with the completion date anticipated to be within 2025/26.
But Loreburn parents are no longer prepared to wait. Mrs Wu said: “We’ve all been made aware of the plans to move the school but the timescale is no longer acceptable for us.
“We fully understand Covid has caused a delay but things have escalated out of control and it’s not good enough.
“We need a solution as soon as possible that doesn’t include portable cabins in other school playgrounds and that has minimal disruption to the children. We need this now before someone is seriously hurt.
“The school is a danger zone and not fit for purpose.”
Amy Burnett, whose eight-year-old son is a pupil at the school, said: “The thought of the kids being in there for another few years is ridiculous.
“Having to prepare food off-site because of rats, teachers getting electric shocks and ceilings falling down is just not good enough.
“There’s also plans to convert the old art building in the school grounds into flats and we don’t know who will be put in them.
“It feels like the pupils and the teachers at Loreburn have been forgotten about.”
Mum Sarah Gibson, who also has an eight-year-old son at the school, said: “I honestly couldn’t believe it when I heard teachers were getting electric shocks from faulty wiring.
“I also can’t believe that the council hasn’t had the decency to inform parents about what’s happened with the electric shocks and the rat problem. Surely they have a responsibility to keep us informed of these things.
“I’m seriously concerned for my child’s safety in that place.”
A council spokesman said: “Following sighting of a rodent in late November measures were immediately put into place which included pest control working closely with our clerk of works.
“The rodent was humanely dispatched and we are satisfied that any issues have now been resolved, but we will continue to monitor the situation.
“The suggestion of an electrical issue has been investigated, with electrical contractors on site on several occasions to test and health check the wiring.
“We had a request made at the end of December 2021 to carry out a small repair to a ceiling, a temporary repair was made during the holiday period and a clerk of works is on site today to investigate and action a permanent repair.”
