Local MP welcomes commitment from Aberdeenshire Council on classroom fire safety.
Banff and Buchan MP has welcomed a commitment from Aberdeenshire Council that they are not considering removing sections of classroom doors in a bid to increase ventilation.
The SNP Government announced as part of proposed measures to increase air quality in school classrooms, £300,000 to undercut classroom doors to increase ventilation.
It emerged last Thursday (3 Feb) that SNP ministers had failed to consult the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on these plans but doubled down at FMQs in response to questioning by Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross MP MSP.
The plans, which have been branded dangerous has seen retired firefighters warn that classroom doors are vital in stopping the spread of heat and smoke into children’s classrooms.
In response, Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid wrote to Aberdeenshire Council bosses seeking urgent reassurances that these measures will not be taken in northeast schools.
In his letter, Duguid told Chief Executive, Jim Savege ,”My constituents are rightly worried about ill-though through plans which will potentially make schools more dangerous for their children and to that end I am seeking reassurance that Aberdeenshire Council will not agree to remove sections of doors in classrooms.
“Our schools, our children and their teachers deserve safe learning spaces, with proper, proven means of increasing air quality.”
Aberdeenshire Council have since responded to Mr Duguid telling him that they have “no plans” to remove sections of any doors in Aberdeenshire schools.
Commenting, David said:
“I am extremely grateful to Aberdeenshire Council for this reassurance.
“Parents and staff across Banff and Buchan and the whole of the shire were rightly concerned about these dangerous proposals.
“The SNP, true to character, gave leave of their senses and, in the case of these plans, fire safety and it is good to see that the Council have chosen not to be party to it.
“Our children and our teachers deserve the safest and best quality environments to work in but the SNP Government seem to have other priorities.”
