5.14.56 On 11th May 2016 ESP responded to the letter of 29th April 2016 from the Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, stating:
"...we have not declared the schools to be not safe"; and
"…this approach (the 'amber' solution) has been signed off as appropriate and reasonable by all four sets of structural engineers." (Will Rudd Davidson, Goodson Associates, Harley Haddow and Scott Bennett Associates).
5.14.57 The letter from ESP however went on to state:
"...notwithstanding the foregoing, we have now provided you with a remediation programme which implements the 'Green' solution. This has been provided without prejudice..."
5.14.58 In giving evidence to the Inquiry, several senior officers of the Council expanded on their analysis at the time that only a 'green' solution was acceptable. Having gone through the disruptive exercise of decanting and re-accommodating some 8,340 pupils and nursery children, they had considered that it would be unacceptable to move them back to their original schools prior to full remediation if, as a result, there was the risk of the schools having to be closed in the event of an unseasonal storm.
5.14.59 The officers of the Council had also formed the opinion that, as the schools were now vacated, this would allow for unrestricted access by the various construction teams to undertake the remedial works in the quickest possible time and without creating additional risk to pupils who otherwise could have been in close proximity to these works.