Call by Caithness councillor for urgent briefing on closure of building at Thurso High School
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A Caithness councillor has called for an urgent briefing from local authority officials on the closure of a three-storey building at Thurso High School.
Ron Gunn, a local Highland councillor and chairman of the Caithness committee, wants answers to questions about the short and long-term future of the block, which is adjacent to Ormlie Road.
It was closed this week as a result of structural concerns about the concrete frame of the building – constructed in the 1960s as an extension to the school. The decision was made on the recommendation of specialist structural engineers.
"I want to know what the position is and would hope to get a briefing soon," said Mr Gunn, who wants the block to be made safe for the pupils and staff. He also would like to know how often checks are undertaken and if there may be problems with other parts of the school complex.
"The building was closed, the students were moved and nobody was allowed in, so it is quite serious. We need to get to the bottom of it and find out the full extent of the problem."
Mr Gunn said it is possible that temporary structures could be used in the meantime but added: "We should look at other alternatives so the students can get back into a routine quickly and should see if there is space available at the [UHI North Highland] college ."
The issue was raised at Tuesday night's meeting of Thurso Community Council. Karl Rosie, a Thurso and Northwest Caithness Highland councillor, described the decision to close the block as "fairly bleak news".
Mr Rosie said a meeting is to take place with senior officers to work out the short and long-term impact on the building.
Thurso Community Council chairwoman Thelma Mackenzie said the safety of the children and staff is the priority, while a member of the public wondered why Highland Council did not realise there was a problem before the pupils went back to school after their October break.
Mr Rosie said engineers had to be consulted before the decision to close the block was made and that takes "a bit of time".
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "Following on from a routine site inspection, specialist structural engineers identified potential concerns in relation to the condition of the concrete frame in the three-storey extension block at Thurso High School.
"Their immediate advice was to close the block until further assessment is carried out to establish the precise issues and what steps may need to be taken thereafter. We have acted on that advice as at all times protecting the health and safety of all children and adults on the site is of paramount importance to the council."
She added: "We will provide an update on next steps as soon as we are able, after we have reviewed the awaited detailed report on this matter. Alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate the affected classrooms to minimise disruption as much as possible and discussions are ongoing with the head teacher in this regard.
"The rest of the school campus remains operational."
The school, which has around 700 pupils, was officially opened in October, 1958. Four years earlier, Basil Spence and Partners along with Caithness County Council architect, William Wilson, were commissioned to build a new high school. A large green-field site at Ormlie Road was chosen for the project.
The main campus is made up of a number of informally grouped buildings of varying styles surrounding a central courtyard.
The school is the most northerly secondary on the British mainland, serving Thurso and the surrounding rural area, including the villages of Castletown, Halkirk and Reay.
