West Lothian Council has approved plans to remove roof planks containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from areas of St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn so that it can remain operational for pupils and staff.

The RAAC planks in the restricted areas will require specialist and complex works to ensure their safe removal.

A new plant room for the school is required as a result, to ensure vital services such electricity and hot water remain available. The large-scale and complex nature of all the work requires investment of nearly £6 million from the budget already allocated for the school.

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Temporary units were installed at St Kentigern's earlier this year, to enable all pupils and staff to be moved from the areas with RAAC planks. This means the works to remove the RAAC planks can be carried out without any further significant disruption to education.

Executive councillor for education Andrew Maguire said: "Our key priorities as always are ensuring that St Kentigern's remains open and operational, and that the school is completely safe for pupils and staff.

"The expert advice we have received is that these works are essential and should go ahead as soon as possible. The works would have taken place anyway as part of the proposed replacement extension, but we have brought them forward as a matter of urgency.

"The council is developing a long-term solution for St Kentigern's at this time, with further updates to be provided in Autumn 2023 on the proposals including estimated costs and funding.

"I would like to thank everyone at St Kentigern's for the very professional and positive way they have responded to the challenges caused by RAAC planks."