Loo closure sees mums pan school

PARENTS with children at a Capital primary have hit out at the "dire conditions" of the school toilets after boys and girls were forced to share the same block.

The boys' toilets at South Morningside Primary have been shut off for about a month after a leaking roof revealed worn timbers and asbestos.

Work is currently being carried out to remove the asbestos from the Victorian building, but in the meantime the boys have had to cram into the same block as the girls.

Parents have complained that the conditions are so bad that many children are too scared to use the toilets while they are at school and are avoiding drinking during the day.

They also claim that a large sink in the toilets is being used by the boys as a urinal.

One mother said: "What they have to do is share the girls' toilets and they are very dirty because there are so many people using them.

"The children have to get changed in the toilets for the after-school gymnastics club so you have to wash their clothes every day. It really is horrible.

"You drop your kids off at school and then spend the whole day worrying. They are in such dire conditions.

"My daughter has stopped drinking water at school and the children are holding it in, which is bad for them as they can get infections."

Another parent added: "The toilets are not hygienic at all and the children are trying to hold it all in until they come out of school.

"It really is disgusting and some of the mums are furious."

Her son, who is in primary seven, said: "They are fixing the roof of the toilets so we have to share the toilets with the girls.

"There are hygiene issues. The sink sometimes gets mistaken for a urinal.

"What I try to do is wait till I get home."

The problem with the toilets is the latest in a long line of issues at South Morningside.

The Evening News revealed last week that parents were told to send their children to school wrapped up warm after the heating system was condemned.

The ageing system at South Morningside Primary has been out of action since October after safety checks were carried out and it was considered to be unsafe for future use.

Portable heaters have been brought in to heat the classrooms until the boiler is replaced next month.

A council spokesman said the toilet block would be upgraded and would be re-opened within the next four weeks.

He added: "Because asbestos needed to be removed from the building the Health and Safety Executive needed a 21-day notice period before work starts.

"We can now start work and we expect a full overhaul and refurb to be complete within four weeks."