A SCHOOL which has been plagued by vandalism has been told it will not get the new security fence it had been promised – because it will cost £100,000.
St John Vianney school in The Inch spends its entire maintenance budget on fixing vandalism and has been waiting for the 2.4m fence to surround the school for two years.
But city chiefs say that because the fence would cost more than £100,000 to e
rect and does not count as a health and safety or a wind and watertight issue, they cannot construct it for at least another two years.
Nigel Griffiths, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, has been working on behalf of the school's parent council to convince education bosses of the need for the security fencing.
He said: "Two years ago the police outlined 18 measures to stop vandalism in this school.
"Last year, they (the council] promised to provide a security fence and appointed a building surveyor.
"Now, they have written to me to say they have absolutely no money for any works that are not emergency repairs to keep schools wind and watertight or for essential health and safety.
"There is clearly no money for essential security works in every school in Edinburgh.
"This is gross mismanagement."
Mr Griffiths has written to David Strang, the chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, to ask for more advice on how to protect the school from vandalism now the council has admitted it will not pay for a security fence any time soon.
He added: "I have written to (education leader] Marilyne MacLaren who also sits on the police board. She should order her department to carry out these works, as asked for by the police, without further delay."
Last year the repair bill for vandalism at the school was £7,500 – £1,285 more than the school's total budget for minor maintenance.
In a letter to Mr Griffiths, Anne Crawford, city development property manager, said she recogniseds the benefits of a security fence, but it could not be erected due to budget restrictions.
She said: "A building surveyor was appointed, as promised, to develop proposals in consultation with the school. However, the estimated cost for new 2.4m fencing was in excess of £100,000.
"Whilst I recognise the benefit in its provision, I regret that the property maintenance budget is restricted to matters relating to health and safety and wind and watertight to contain expenditure within the budget provision.
"I have asked the security manager responsible for the corporate portfolio to liaise with the building users and provide a report on any other measures that could be taken to improve the situation for the school."
A city council spokesman said that erecting the 2.4m fence would have to be a capital investment project and that "current financial constraints" meant it would be at least another two years before it was looked at again.
He added: "In the meantime, we will work closely with police to help tackle vandalism problems at the school."
The full article contains 520 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
