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Storm flooding closes school
Rainwater destroys pupils’ artwork
CHILDREN had a year’s school work destroyed when flooding caused by a weekend thunderstorm forced the closure of a Kentish Town primary this week.
Heavy rainwater from Saturday’s downpour flooded the top floor of Carlton Primary, in Grafton Road, ruining pupils’ artwork, decorations and projects.
Flood damage also shut Chalcot School, in Harmood Street, Chalk Farm, on Monday.
Carlton’s headteacher Jacquie Phelan said staff had worked round the clock to clear water from the Victorian building and to salvage as much of the pupils’ work as possible.
The school reopened yesterday (Wednesday).
Ms Phelan said: “There was a tide of water halfway up the storage boxes and I’m afraid some of the books and folders were just wiped out.
“I have been reassuring parents that the computer records (of pupils’ progress) are intact, and our first job is to make sure the school is safe to open.”
Governors’ chairman Mick Farrant said the school’s roof had been neglected. Repairs carried out by the council following floods in 2007 had been insufficient to cope with the weekend rainfall.
The collapse of a length of heavy, cast-iron guttering into the playground also raised health and safety issues, he said.
Mr Farrant added: “This has been very disruptive to the school and the staff. You can’t have a school that is subject to floods.
“With climate change we are getting heavier rainfall and the roof needs to be prepared to cope with that.”
The council said the Victorian roof design was to blame for the flooding.
A press official added: “We understand that the main school was re-roofed a few years ago and remains in sound condition.
“We are aware, however, that the original Victorian design of the roof has meant there have recently been problems where gutters, downpipes and drains have struggled to cope with sudden torrential downpours.
“We have worked with the school to address these problems and until this weekend no leaks had recently been reported.
“We were sorry to hear that students’ work had been damaged by rain coming through an area of roof that had not previously been affected, and will continue to work with the school to try to resolve the problem as a matter of urgency.” |
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