Toxic gas leak primary school reopening delayed again as repair work begins 5 months after 20 children fall ill
A school in Stafford, evacuated after the toxic gas formaldehyde leaked into classrooms making pupils ill, will not reopen until September.
Twenty children at Flash Ley Primary suffered nausea and vomiting during the leak on 2 October last year.
Experts later confirmed that the smell was caused by a leak of formaldehyde.
The chemical was present in ducts under the school's corridors, after builders made repairs to them over the summer holidays.
In December, Staffordshire County Council said the school was likely to reopen this Easter, but today it confirmed work has only just begun to remove the material believed to be the source of the harmful airborne chemical.
The Council says it has been working closely with the Health & Safety Executive, school leaders, and contractors to come up with a solution to the 'complex situation'.
Read: What is Formaldehyde?
The reopening date will now be after the summer holidays after a ‘thorough deep clean’. If Flash Ley Primary reopens on schedule, it will have been closed for a total of 11 months.
Since the school was evacuated on safety grounds, pupils have been taught at the nearby Chetwynd Centre, Tillington Manor Primary and Stafford Manor High, where they will now stay for the rest of this academic year.
On today’s news of the further delay, one parent told ITV News Central she was happy with the outcome, saying the children have settled in well to the temporary arrangements, and the teachers and head have worked 'hard to meet the needs of the children.'
County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills said:
Simon Barker, Head Teacher at Flash Ley Primary School said:
Watch again: First report on toxic gas leak at Flash Ley