10th May 2016

5.14.49  At a meeting of the CIMT on 10th May 2016 it was noted that the date scheduled for the re-opening of three of the Phase 2 schools, Oxgangs, St. Peter's and Braidburn Schools had already been publicised to parents as Tuesday 24th May. The work to these schools would have to be completed by 17th May 2016 and the required documentation submitted on the same day if this was to be achieved.

5.14.50  The meeting was however informed that as a result of the level of assurances required, Goodson Associates had advised Galliford Try that additional windposts were required in the Phase 2 schools. Therefore, despite previous statements that all work to the Phase 2 schools would be completed by 9th May 2016, the installation of more than 30 windposts was currently underway at St. Peter's Primary School and at the other Phase 2 schools. This would delay the completion beyond 9th May 2016. The contractor, Galliford Try, still expected to deliver the schools by the 17th May 2016.

5.14.51  The original windposts specified for the schools were generally to have been in the form of steel angles that were to be built into the inner blockwork leaf of the cavity so that they would not have been visible from either inside or outside the building.

5.14.52  Where the results of the surveys and structural calculations identified the need for windposts to be retrofitted to achieve the required strength in some of the masonry panels, it had been determined that the least disruptive and quickest methodology of fitting them was to attach them on the internal face of the blockwork walls.

5.14.53  As a result, the retrofitted windposts, of which many more than originally envisaged were required across both Phase 1 and Phase 2 schools, would be highly visible from within the school and also intrude slightly into the internal rooms and spaces. To reduce the visual impact, it was proposed that they should be boxed in and painted to match the walls to which they were fixed.

5.14.54  Representative photographs (Images 19 and 20) of the results of the application of the boxed in retrofitted windposts in the gymnasium at Drummond High School are shown below.

Images 19 and 20: Boxed in retrofitted windposts, Drummond High School.

5.14.55  The meeting of the 10th May was also advised that the Leader of the Council had announced that an Independent Inquiry into the closure of the schools would be held. However, it was intended that the main work of the Inquiry would not commence until after the schools were occupied.