Caerphilly council advised to consider demolition of school Cwmcarn school amid asbestos fears.
A specialist contractor has advised Caerphilly council to consider demolishing a school closed last week because of asbestos, it has emerged. The 900-pupil Cwmcarn High School shut last Friday after workmen spotted the potentially hazardous material.
It partially reopened on Friday with sixth-formers reporting to the performing arts centre in the morning. Year 11 pupils return on Monday and Year 10 pupils on Tuesday. Lessons for other pupils resume on 5 November. The locations for the remaining pupils’ lessons are still to be confirmed.
Caerphilly council has defended its actions in closing the school immediately on receipt of a structural report last Friday which identified asbestos.
The report recommended an immediate notice of prohibited access, although the risk to students and staff from fibres of damaged asbestos was said to be low.
The council has also revealed that the specialist contractors who wrote the report also advised it to “look at the abatement/demolition of Cwmcarn High School, due to the implicated costs of continuing to operate without further risk of exposure”.
The council estimates it would cost millions to remove the asbestos, but says it is considering all options.
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