Moray not on schools defect list

Moray Council has confirmed that it does not feature in a list of Scottish local authority areas where defects have been found in schools built under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.

Investigations by the BBC have established that a total of 71 schools across 15 councils were found to have defects similar to those in Edinburgh schools which were deemed to be unsafe.

A number of schools in the capital were closed amid safety fears following the collapse of a wall at a primary school last year.

In Moray, two schools – Elgin Academy and Keith Primary – have been built under PPP in recent years.

A Moray Council spokesman said regular programmed and reactive maintenance was carried out annually on both schools.

“These maintenance works also encompass lifecycle works which involve the replacement and/or renewal of major plant.

“Together, the maintenance/lifecycle works are extensive and involve in excess of 1000 individual tasks, some of which involve the regular review of wall ties, header ties and other structural supports.”

An independent consultant had been appointed to carry out intrusive surveys to ascertain structural integrity following media attention around the Edinburgh schools.

“The surveys found no immediate cause for concern or health and safety issues,” said the spokesman.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.