Asbestos found in 167 Glasgow schools

But education chiefs have moved to put parents’ minds at ease after it was claimed that kids running through corridors could disturb the toxic substance.

A Freedom of Information request has found that 167 primaries, secondaries, nurseries and assisted support needs schools in the city contain asbestos.

Specialist officers are employed by the council to monitor Glasgow’s education facilities to ensure asbestos is not disturbed and cannot become harmful.

Despite that, Hope Robertson, Secretary of the Clydebank Asbestos Group, who cover the West of Scotland, said: “Asbestos costs an arm and a leg to remove but you can’t put a price on children’s lives.

“Kids run through corridors, they bang doors and that’s all it takes to disturb asbestos and make it go airborne.

“Parents should be aware of the fact that they can request a look at the asbestos register. Schools must be able to produce that.

“Folk say we’re scaremongering but schools, especially the Consortium of Local Authority Special Programme (CLASP) facilities, have the old pipe insulation systems in them. They are covered in asbestos.”

Seven CLASP schools and 18 secondaries throughout the city were identified as having asbestos. Those included Holyrood Secondary, St Mungo’s Primary and the all-girls Notre Dame High School.

In the west of the 50 nurseries, primaries and additional support needs schools were revealed as containing asbestos, with 42 on the South Side, 29 in the East End and 21 in the north of Glasgow.

If undisturbed, asbestos doesn’t pose a health risk, but if material containing it is damaged, fibres can enter the lungs, causing asbestosis if exposed over a prolonged period.

That can lead to health complications including a thickening of the lining of the lungs and cancer.

Fraser Simpson, Partner and Head of Industrial Disease at Digby Brown Solicitors, said: “In the past asbestos was hailed as a wonder-material and used extensively in construction work but we now know it can prove fatal to those who are exposed to it – sadly we see the effects of this first-hand with the support we provide for hundreds of families every year.

“All the warning signs are there and have been for decades and it simply beggars belief that nothing is seemingly done about it.

“The authorities have a duty to protect public health and cannot ignore this ticking time bomb – not when there has been such a long time to be proactive and address the issue.”

Glasgow City Council confirmed that its education services team manages buildings on an “asbestos control” basis rather than an “asbestos free” basis as even following removal, facilities can never be totally rid of the substance.

A spokeswoman said: “We have a robust management programme in place to ensure safety in all our buildings and work closely with the Health and Safety Executive.

“The management of asbestos within occupied buildings is a complex arena, and whilst there are times where removal is appropriate, it is also true that on many occasions, asbestos is safer when left alone and managed appropriately.

“Asbestos that remains undisturbed presents no risk and it’s very unhelpful to worry parents unnecessarily as we would not take any health and safety risks when it comes to our children, young people and staff in our schools.”

The following facilities were recorded by Glasgow City Council as containing asbestos:

Secondary Schools

Govan High School

Lourdes Secondary School

Bellahouston Academy

Kings Park Secondary School

Holyrood Secondary School

St Paul’s High School

Hillpark Secondary School

Shawlands Academy

Whitehill Secondary School

Eastbank Academy

Bannerman High School

Cleveden Secondary School

John Paul Academy

Hyndland Secondary School

Hillhead High School

Knightswood Secondary School

Notre Dame High School

St Roch’s Secondary School

CLASP Schools

Anderston Primary School

Caledonia Primary School

Miltonbank Primary School

Sandwood Primary School

St Alberts Primary School

St Mungo’s Primary School

Sunnyside Primary School

North Glasgow 

Abercorn Secondary School

Alexandra Parade Primary

Ashton School

Balornock Primary School

Barmulloch Primary School

Bonnybroom Nursery

Chirnsyde Primary School

Duntarvie Pre-School Assess.

Elmvale Primary School

Oakgrove Primary School

Royston Nursery

Royston Primary School

Ruchill Early Years Centre

Scaraway Nursery

Sighthill Nursery

St Catherine’s Primary School

St Joseph’s Primary School

St Martha’s Primary School

St Roch’s Primary School

St Stephen’s Primary School

Woodside Nursery

East Glasgow 

Onslow Drive Day Nursery

Dennistoun Early Years Centre

St Denis’ Primary School

Parkhill Secondary School

St Michael’s Primary School

Helenslea Nursery

Eastbank Primary School

Budhill Family Learning Centre

Westmuir High School

St Timothy’s Primary School

Thorntree Primary School

Wellshot Primary School

St Paul’s (Shettleston) Pr School

Carmyle Primary School

St Joachim’s Primary School

Cardinal Winning Secondary

Mount Vernon Primary School

St Philomena’s Primary School

Carntyne Primary School

St Thomas’ Primary School

Elmcroft Nursery

Newhills Secondary School

Eastmuir Primary School

Sandaig Primary School

Sandaig Nursery

Buchlyvie Nursery

Swinton Primary School

St Bridget’s Primary School

St Francis Of Assisi Primary

South Glasgow

Swinton Primary School

St Bridget’s Primary School

St Francis Of Assisi Primary

Carmunnock Primary School

Castlemilk Day Nursery

Croftfoot Primary School

Cuthbertson Primary School

Darnley Primary School

Deanpark Nursery

Eastwood Nursery

Middlefield

Garnetbank Primary School

Govanhill Nursery

Greenview Learning Centre

Hampden Primary School & Unit

Hollybrook Academy

Holy Cross Primary

King’s Park Primary School

Kirkriggs Primary School

Langside Nursery

Langside Primary School

Lyoncross Nursery

Mount Florida Primary School and Nursery Class

Nithsdale Rd Nursery

Our Lady Of The Annunciation

Pollok Childrens Centre

Pollokshields Early Years Centre

Pollokshields Primary School

Renfrew St Nursery

Sacred Heart Primary School

Shawlands Primary School

St Angela’s Primary School

St Anne’s Primary School

St Bride’s Primary School

St Brigid’s Primary School

St Conval’s Primary School

St Francis’ Primary School

St Marnock’s Primary School

St Mirin’s Primary School

St Monica’s Primary School

Toryglen Primary School

West Glasgow

Ardsgoil Glasgow Gaelic Scdry

Bankhead Primary School

Belhaven Nursery

Blairdardie Primary School

Blairvadach Outdoor Res. Centre

Cadder Primary School

Caldercuilt Primary School

Cardonald Primary School

Cartvale Secondary School

Cloverbank Nursery

Corpus Christi Primary School

Cowcaddens Day Nursery

Craigton Primary School

Cranstonhill Nursery

Drummore Primary School

Dunard Primary School

Fasque Family Centre

Fortrose Nursery

Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre

Hillington Primary School

Hyndland Primary School

Ibrox Primary School

Kelbourne Park Primary School

Kelvindale Primary School

Langa St Nursery

Langfaulds Primary School

Linburn Academy

Lorne Street Primary School

Maryhill Park Nursery

Mosspark Primary School

Novar Nursery

Our Lady Of The Rosary Primary

Parkview Primary School

Penilee Nursery

Pikeman Nursery

Rosshall Nursery

Sandyford Day Nursery

Scotstoun Primary School

St Blane’s Primary School

St Charles’ Primary School

St George’s Primary School

St Mary’s  Primary

St Ninian’s Primary School

St Patrick’s Primary School

St Paul’s (Whiteinch) Primary

Thornwood Primary School

Whiteinch Nursery

Whiteinch Primary School

Wyndford Nursery

Knightswood Early Years