Safety fears over new school site

The school would be sited close to a former landfill site

Ministers could be asked to decide whether controversial plans to locate a new school near a former landfill site in Coatbridge should go ahead.

North Lanarkshire Council wants to build a new £40m joint campus for St Ambrose High School and Drumpark School on Drumpellier Country Park.

Residents said they were worried about levels of pollution on the site and the risk of methane gas leaks.

The plans are set to be referred to the Scottish Government for final approval.

The council's education department announced proposals to relocate St Ambrose High and Drumpark School, which caters for pupils with special educational needs, on the Drumpellier site last year.

It is part of its £250m Schools and Centres 21 programme.

We have carried out rigorous external ground investigations and our consultants confirmed the site can be developed Julie Heron North Lanarkshire Council

A planning application for the new school is currently being considered by the council.

But local people have launched a campaign against the chosen location, which would see the school built on the edge of a former landfill site.

Coatbridge resident Julie McAnulty told the BBC Scotland news website: "We have several concerns about the Drumpellier Park site but the most overriding issue is that it is simply not safe.

"We know that the site reporters for the council recorded high levels of methane gas and recommended methane gas alarms be installed in the new school.

"There are also extensive mine workings under the site and a risk of flooding."

The current St Ambrose site will be used for a Park and Ride

Ms McAnulty said the local campaigners had gathered 443 objections to the final planning application and had suggested an alternative site in the town for the new school.

She added: "Obviously we all want new schools and good facilities for young people but we have to chose the right site."

Julie Heron, North Lanarkshire Council's project officer for the Schools and Centres 21 programme, said: "We have carried out rigorous external ground investigations of the site and our consultants confirmed the site can be developed.

"No development is allowed to take place unless it is verified by independent external agencies."

She insisted the council had been actively consulting with the local community on the proposals and added: "In July we agreed with the secretary of Townhead Community Council that we would arrange a presentation for them."

This is a heavily contaminated site. Test spores have thrown up elevated levels of lead, arsenic, nickel and benzoapyrene John Cushley Local campaigner

John Cushley, a member of the local community council, is among those campaigning against the use of the Drumpellier Park site.

He said: "This is a heavily contaminated site. The former steelworks in Gartsherrie dumped its industrial waste there for years.

"Test spores on the site have thrown up elevated levels of lead, arsenic, nickel and benzoapyrene.

"It was never sealed properly so those toxins have migrated and will be in the soil in the area where they plan to locate the school."

Mr Cushley said he would welcome a decision by North Lanarkshire Council to refer the proposals to the Scottish Government.

He added: "I think it is highly irresponsible to choose to build schools on or near a landfill site and I hope ministers will recognise that."

Patrick Kelly, head of planning and development at North Lanarkshire Council, said: "If the council recommends approving the application it will be required to be referred to Scottish ministers for their consideration, given the council is the landowner and the application is contrary to the approved local plan."