Highland Council plans £400k spend on fire safety for schools – but critics say it is not enough
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Nearly six months after a blaze ripped through one of its primary schools, Highland Council has earmarked less than half a million pounds to improve school safety.
But one leading councillor insists the cash is too little – and too late.
Andrew Jarvie (Inverness South) said it was terrifying that it took a fire at Park Primary in Invergordon to force the council into action on fire safety in schools and has demanded to know why.
After the incident in February it was revealed that only 23 of the council’s 200 schools have sprinkler systems.
Just 15 of the region’s 171 primaries – less than 10 per cent – have them, and only eight out of 29 secondaries.
However, the local authority refused to say which ones did not have sprinklers, saying it “could potentially make sites more vulnerable to arson attacks”.
It has now emerged that Highland Council plans to spend £320,000 on fire alarm and detection system upgrades at 14 primary and secondary schools, including Cradlehall Primary in Inverness and Ardersier Primary.
Documents show it wants to invest £110,000 in fire safety work to the structure and fabric of six primary and secondary schools, including Nairn Academy and Balloch Primary.
It also aims to spend £100,000 on fire risk assessments at various unspecified council properties, which could include schools.
Councillors were asked to approve contracts for the projects last week.
Conservative group leader Cllr Jarvie welcomed the move, but accused the local authority of failing to enact biennial fire safety assessments.
“This investment has the potential to help save lives but more must be done to give every pupil and teacher confidence that their school is as safe as possible in the event of a fire,” he said.
“From the horrific timeline of failures I have uncovered, fire safety has been anything but a priority for this council.
“It is terrifying that it took a school to burn to the ground for basic works to be carried out to make the buildings our kids spend most of their lives in, safe. It is inexcusable.
“This council has not discussed fire safety policy since 2013, where it agreed fire risk assessments would be conducted every two years on schools. This year is the first time since 2015 where school fire safety has appeared on annual education capital budget papers.”
Derek Wilson, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s local senior officer for the Highlands, said local authorities had overall responsibility for the provision of fire safety measures in schools.
“Our officers will always seek to work in partnership wherever possible and appropriate to support this process, to improve legislative compliance, and ultimately reduce risk to ensure people stay safe,” he added.
A council spokeswoman said it had a limited budget and must prioritise essential services, repairs and maintenance across a vast estate, including roads, bridges, schools, buildings and harbours.
She added: “A list of essential fire safety works totalling in excess of £800,000 has been identified to be carried out during the coming months.”
It is understood the Park Primary fire was sparked by a faulty laptop battery. Fortunately all staff and pupils were evacuated safely. A virtual update on plans for the future was given to parents of the school’s pupils last night.
The council spokeswoman added: “The council understands the investigation has been completed but we have not yet received a report from Scottish Fire and Rescue Services.”
