Rooftop nursery to be floored for good

A NURSERY located on the top floor of an eight-storey block of flats that was shut down temporarily amid health and safety fears is set to remain closed for good, it emerged today.

Education bosses have ruled that Westfield Court Nursery in Gorgie is unsuitable for young children after health and safety inspectors warned they could be prosecuted if they ignored their advice and a child was injured in a fire.

Meanwhile, Scottish ministers have also now confirmed the closure of two other city nurseries.

High School Yards and Princess Elizabeth nurseries will close this summer after the government ratified the council's decision to axe them, with a condition that any savings should be reinvested in the council's early years provision.

Councillors voted in favour of closing the nurseries last month, but the decision came under scrutiny from Holyrood after it emerged council bosses failed to consult properly. The consultation into the permanent closure of Westfield Court will run for six weeks, from the end of August until the start of October.

The nursery was closed at the end of last year after the council's own health and safety inspectors ruled that a fire within the building "could result in tragedy".

The children were temporarily moved to alternative nurseries at Tynecastle and Calder Glen while further inspections were carried out.

In the latest health and safety report, Graham Anderson, senior health and safety adviser at the council, warned education bosses against moving children back into the building.

He said: "If there were a serious fire at the nursery and the evacuation of children and staff became problematic, then it could be argued that lives were put at risk because professional advice had been ignored.

"If this were the case, then the council, and individual decision-makers within the council, could be the subject of civil action and/or criminal prosecution."

A number of fire safety measures would have to be introduced if the nursery were to be re-opened, including a new fire-rated evacuation lift and new doors and signage, which would cost around 165,000. A further 160,000 would be needed for "ongoing maintenance costs" over the next five years.

If permanent closure goes ahead, council bosses say the building could be used by other groups.

Education director Gillian Tee said: "Given the recommendations of the reports and the ongoing concerns for the children and staff who may attend Westfield Court, it is recommended that Westfield Court should no longer be used as a nursery school and therefore should be closed."

City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren said: "It's always difficult for communities when schools close, we do understand that, but we want to assure parents that the receiving nurseries are working very hard to make the transition as smooth as possible."