Demolition team move in to flatten St Peter’s annex

Aug 14 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

THE annexe of St Peter’s Primary School was this week demolished.

The fire-damaged wing of the school’s building was last term used by more than 200 pupils from Our Lady and St Anne’s Primary School.

The school is being rebuilt in Hall Street at a cost of £4.5m as part of South Lanarkshire Council’s £850m Primary Schools Modernisation Programme.

Sandrina Lawson, head teacher, Our Lady and St Anne’s Primary School, said: “Staff are devastated at the loss of valuable resources. We have been working hard over the summer to prepare for our move to our new school. To lose years and years of children’s and teachers work is extremely upsetting.

“However, we are extremely fortunate that there has been no damage to the school office, which means that pupil records have not been affected by the fire. At this stage, we have been unable to confirm the extent of the damage to learning and teaching materials. Over the next few days we will be working together with education resources to assess the extent of the damage and to ensure that resources are replaced as soon as possible.”

Council bosses said the part of the campus occupied by St Peter’s 89 pupils had been unaffected by the blaze.

Woodlands Nursery which is opposite the school, was also undamaged.

A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said: “At this stage, we are confident that St Peter’s pupils will return to school, as planned, on Monday, August 18.

“Pupils of Our Lady and St Anne’s Primary are due to move into their new school at the start of this term and do not go back until Thursday, August 21, as planned.

“Over the next few days we will be in contact with parents of both schools to confirm the return dates for pupils.

“All teaching staff in South Lanarkshire including those in St Peter’s and Our Lady and St Anne’s return for two in-service days today (Thursday) and tomorrow.”

Police this week said the annexe was demolished and the estimated value of damage including property contained within is estimated to be in excess of £500,000.

Over the past four years, a number of primaries have been decanted to St Peter’s annexe while new schools have been built for them.

The council spokesman added: “The loss of the annexe at St Peter’s Primary School will not have an immediate effect on the primary schools modernisation programme as no other schools were identified to use this accommodation as a decant facility.

“The intention was to hold this building in reserve in case it was required for the project in the future. We will therefore have to assess the long-term implications this will have.”