A REVIEW into health concerns surrounding two schools built on a former industrial landfill site, raises new questions, along with “unnecessary and significant knowledge and process gaps”, according to an expert assessment.
The earlier report ordered by Deputy First Minister John Swinney – found water samples from the Buchanan and St Ambrose High School campus at Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, passed all quality standards and that no landfill related gases were detected. However, it also criticised North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire for their handling of concerns raised by staff and parents.
Now an assessment of the review by Professor Andrew Watterson, from the Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group at the University of Stirling, has called for a review of the use of similar sites across Scotland.
“Decisions are pending for example at the old Ravenscraig site in Lanarkshire and the Ravenscraig Hospital site in Greenock – both on contaminated sites,” it said.
Watterson said that while the Scottish Government acted quickly to set up a review of the schools’ site, which had produced valuable new information, important gaps remained.
He told The National: “There is a continued lack of transparency, especially from the Lanarkshire health board. This continues to create mistrust in some parents and some staff who feel several of their pressing concerns have yet to be fully answered relating to the cancer cluster, indoor air quality and possible pollutants tested in children.
“These could be swiftly addressed if there was a will to do so. The recovery group proposed by the review will help to fill the less urgent gaps over time. The lessons learnt from the site should be rolled out and applied to other brownfield contaminated developments in Scotland.”
Gabe Docherty, director of Public Health at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The independent report provided a clear reassurance that the schools are safe to attend. That continues to be the case. We are fully supporting the independent report’s recommendations, including the establishment of a Site Recovery Group.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council added: “The council welcomes the independent review, which reinforces the conclusions reached by experts in public health and pollution that the schools are safe, the campus is safe, and there is no link to reported illness. Our focus is on implementing the recommendations of the review and working closely with pupils, parents and staff at these outstanding, safe schools.”
The Scottish Government stressed there were no links between the schools and ill health. A spokesperson said: “The independent review considered a wide range of evidence, including environmental and clinical data, and commissioned new soil, water and air tests. The report provides reassurance that there are no links between ill-health and the campus. The recommendations will ensure statutory bodies engage far more proactively with parents, staff and pupils to rebuild the trust and learn lessons from this for the future.
“A key recommendation is the establishment of a Site Recovery Group, North Lanarkshire Council has now appointed its chair and scientific advisor and the group will meet next week to start its work.”
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