Warning after vandals torch primary school

Published on Wednesday 23 July 2008 11:18

FIREFIGHTERS have welcomed the planned demolition of a vandal-hit former primary school – but warned bored youths have been responsible for a spate of other blazes.

The former Hunters Tryst Primary School was branded a potential death trap after the latest suspicious fire on Monday night. The building is due to be demolished today but firefighters fear the young arsonists may simply turn their attention elsewhere.

Andrew Anderson, watch manager at Liberton Fire Station, said there had been five arson attacks in a half mile radius in just two weeks.

"It seems to be the way at this time of year in Oxgangs.

"We have had a spate of fires in that area. There has been a lot of malicious behaviour with youths. We are quite concerned about working to address these things in the community, through visiting schools and other things."

He added: "I don't want to label Oxgangs, but we have had five fires in the space of two weeks, including two garden sheds in consecutive nights, and they torched one of the empty shops in Oxgangs Terrace. It all seems to be happening in a half-mile radius."

The city council had spent 20,000 re-enforcing security at Hunters Tryst before this week's blaze, putting steel shutters around the ground floor of the school, but youngsters broke in through upper floor windows and skylights.

The building has been empty since last summer when pupils moved to Comiston, now called Pentland Primary. It is expected to be sold to Dundas Estates, which is currently preparing a planning application and intends to build homes in its place.

The council has agreed to tear the school down first as part of the deal, and not as a result of the fires, although Lothian and Borders Fire Service had been calling for its demolition.

They feared a repeat of a fire in a former warehouse in Penicuik, which killed Craig Quinn, 12, and Blair Easton, 11, which was started accidentally by the youngsters in 1998.

Mr Anderson said: "It's been awaiting demolition but kids have still been getting in and it has become particularly dangerous."

Councillor Jason Rust, who represents Colinton and Fairmilehead, said: "We've been saying this building should have had its demolition brought forward.

"There is a great chance of vandalism and danger to anyone accessing the site.

To be fair, the council did step up security. he big problem is even when the perpetrators are identified, the parents are not really that interested, that's why it is difficult getting the message across."

A police spokesman said: "Deliberate fireraising is an issue we treat extremely seriously and we are committed to making sure that those who engage in such criminal behaviour are dealt with robustly.

"When such behaviour becomes a problem in any particular area, we will work closely with our partners in the council and fire service to make sure that the appropriate resources are allocated to tackle the problem."