Soilfix did explain at great length during the drop-in sessions their methodology for ensuring that no dust particles or fibres (which includes all materials, including any contaminants like lead) would be permitted to escape during the demolition. As advised, their methodology involves air-testing to levels well below the required HSE levels, and they have a two stage warning process to prevent exceedances occurring. This method has ensured that in their entire company history they've never had an exceedance (including on sites far more contaminated than ours). To be clear, an 'exceedance' would still be a long way below safe levels.
The methodology is the same regardless of the contaminant in question, as they ultimately all manifest themselves in the form of dust-fibres. If you suppress the dust, which Soilfix have demonstrated that they will, then you remove the risk of dust release and thus any risk of exposure to contaminants.
The methodology proposed is all in accordance with current legislation and compliant with guidance from the Health & Safety Executive. Parents who object via the planning portal as one email has encouraged people to do will therefore make no difference to the methodology used but do risk putting the entire project and the wonderful facilities planned for our children, at risk.
Some parents have also asked why we don't schedule this for the summer holidays. This is an 18 month project so it can’t all be done in the summer holidays. The overriding priority throughout the whole project is to keep children absolutely 100% safe. The next priority is to cause the least disruption to learning. There will be other work during the main construction phase, at higher frequency, that needs to happen closer to where children learn, and that is the work that we will try and schedule over the summer holiday. This particular part of the project has to happen as soon as possible in order to make the most of those holidays.
The phasing of the main part of the project is, as Kezia Pearce said in her email to parents, still being finalised with Galliford Try. We will be meeting with them next week and will let parents know when we have details. Some sort of partial relocation has not been completely ruled out but at the moment there are still lots of details to be worked out.
No one on this project, not the headteacher, the Governors, the Council nor the contractors would consider for one moment risking the safety of children for any reason. Parents are absolutely right to ask when they need reassurance or would like to know how this is being done. We are working very hard to provide that assurance and to make this process as open as we possibly can.
