Extra surveillance calls made to combat arson and vandalism

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 11:18

THERE have been calls for increased security to protect disused school buildings from vandalism and arson after a major fire at a vacant city primary.

Police are treating the blaze at the former Dumbryden Primary School in Wester Hailes, which broke out on Thursday night, as suspicious.

Seven classrooms and the roof of the building were damaged as 25 firefighters fought the blaze.

It came two months after a huge blaze ripped through several buildings at the disused Niddrie Mill Primary School in Craigmillar.

And at the start of the year, vandals trashed the new Juniper Green Primary building while it was still under construction.

They smashed expensive worktops and toilet sinks and sprayed paint all over the walls costing around 10,000.

The former Hunters Trust Primary School was also a constant target for vandals and arsonists while it lay empty.

And Lismore Primary, which closed at Christmas, has become a favourite haunt for local youngsters since it shut. They have targeted the building, throwing stones at it and climbing on the roof.

Calls have now been made for extra security measures like additional patrols or 24-hour surveillance to be brought in for disused schools and those under construction.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, Labour's education spokesman, said: "The whole issue of security should be reviewed.

"We need to ensure that there's adequate surveillance and a presence on site. It's becoming all too frequent and we need to do something to prevent it."

He added that some of the seven schools in Edinburgh which are currently disused could be used by community groups looking for accommodation in the short term.

Firefighters were called out to the former Dumbryden Primary in Dumbryden Gardens at around 8.30pm on Thursday.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire, though police confirmed it is being treated as suspicious.

The building – which was boarded and guarded at random times during the day and night prior to the fire – is due to be demolished and the council plans to sell the site.

A council spokesman said: "We are working with police and fire services as they investigate what happened at Dumbryden. Beyond that we will make the site as safe and secure as possible."