ONE of the staff members who developed cancer while working at a Coatbridge school at the centre of health fears has spoken of the “worry” of current staff.
The former teacher told BBC Scotland he is pleased a ministerial review is to go ahead into the Buchanan and St Ambrose High campus - built on a former landfill site.
And he said that if wrongdoing is uncovered, he will sue North Lanarkshire Council.
Welcoming the government review, he said: “I think it’s absolutely great. The reason I think that is because there are many, many people at that school, my colleagues or ex-colleagues, whether they are teachers, whether they are support staff, or janitors, who are all worried.
“They’re having to go into this school every day and they believe there is an issue with the ground. If it is found that there is something wrong, I would contact a lawyer and I would want to claim them.”
Last month, it emerged that four teachers at the school campus have developed bladder cancer, including three who worked along the same corridor.
Parents have reported their children developing health problems including stomach problems, headaches and tiredness.
Members of the teaching union NASUWT have announced plans for a strike in response to claims the local authority has been slow to act on mounting concerns at the campus.
North Lanarkshire Council said no serious illness had been linked to the schools or the site.
The saga dates back to 2010 when there was anger after councillors voted to go ahead with plans to build on the former landfill site.
Campaigners protested against the building location, claiming the site posed a health threat for pupils.
Engineering consultants URS Corporation labelled the area ‘gas characteristic situation 4’, the highest level of methane emissions, but the council said the emissions were due to peat in the ground and not waste.
A year later, concerns grew as bright orange silt contaminated waterways in the park, while ground around the new campus began to sink.
At the time, Central Scotland MSP John Wilson raised the issue of the new £44 million campus at the Scottish Parliament while local councillor Martin McWilliams petitioned North Lanarkshire Council to meet with concerned residents.
But the council consistently maintained the site was safe. First Nicola Sturgeon has said medical testing will be carried out if required.
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