1/5/2008Parents win battle over window grilles
WORRIED parents have won their battle to have metal bars removed from the windows of a vandal-hit primary school in Glasgow.
Action was taken to protect Cardonald Primary after it was hit by mindless thugs four times in just five months.
The most recent attack was in January when a yob wielding a golf club smashed 31 windows in the school, damage which led to repairs costing £14,000.
Local people demanded action and council chiefs responded by putting iron grilles on the windows.
But parents feared the improved security would put pupils in two ground floor classes at risk if emergency routes were blocked during a fire.
One mum, Karyn Mitchell, said: "If there is a fire and the emergency exits are blocked, the children won't be able to get out the windows.
"The bars are on the windows of classes which have the youngest children, who are obviously the most vulnerable."
The school's parent council contacted Craigton councillor Alistair Watson and education bosses were told of parents' concerns.
Council bosses insisted there were no health and safety implications in fitting grilles as the windows are not considered an emergency escape route.
However, they agreed to look at other security measures and have decided the bars will be removed from classroom windows and replaced by electronic metal shutters which will be brought down at night.
Nancy Loftus, chairman of the school's parent council, welcomed the decision to replace the metal bars with shutters.
She said: "The decision to replace them has been greeted with relief and is a positive step in the right direction."
A council spokesman said: "We installed grilles on windows at Cardonald Primary a few weeks ago, immediately following a serious vandalism incident at the school.
"Parents raised some concerns about the grilles at the time, and we pledged to hold a meeting with all interested parties at which the situation could be reviewed.
"As a result of that meeting, we have decided to replace some of the grilles with electric roller shutters.
"We will continue to monitor the situation. We have stepped up routine patrols in the area and discussions are continuing regarding the possible installation of CCTV."
Action was taken to protect Cardonald Primary after it was hit by mindless thugs four times in just five months.
The most recent attack was in January when a yob wielding a golf club smashed 31 windows in the school, damage which led to repairs costing £14,000.
Local people demanded action and council chiefs responded by putting iron grilles on the windows.
But parents feared the improved security would put pupils in two ground floor classes at risk if emergency routes were blocked during a fire.
One mum, Karyn Mitchell, said: "If there is a fire and the emergency exits are blocked, the children won't be able to get out the windows.
"The bars are on the windows of classes which have the youngest children, who are obviously the most vulnerable."
The school's parent council contacted Craigton councillor Alistair Watson and education bosses were told of parents' concerns.
Council bosses insisted there were no health and safety implications in fitting grilles as the windows are not considered an emergency escape route.
However, they agreed to look at other security measures and have decided the bars will be removed from classroom windows and replaced by electronic metal shutters which will be brought down at night.
Nancy Loftus, chairman of the school's parent council, welcomed the decision to replace the metal bars with shutters.
She said: "The decision to replace them has been greeted with relief and is a positive step in the right direction."
A council spokesman said: "We installed grilles on windows at Cardonald Primary a few weeks ago, immediately following a serious vandalism incident at the school.
"Parents raised some concerns about the grilles at the time, and we pledged to hold a meeting with all interested parties at which the situation could be reviewed.
"As a result of that meeting, we have decided to replace some of the grilles with electric roller shutters.
"We will continue to monitor the situation. We have stepped up routine patrols in the area and discussions are continuing regarding the possible installation of CCTV."