Grangemouth primary school's hot water woes get a temporary fix

Moray Primary School, in Moray Place, Grangemouth, unfortunately suffered flooding during this month’s extreme night and early morning of thunderstorms and the property’s boiler room was damaged.

While Falkirk Council stated today the problem was fixed, albeit temporarily, on the weekend of August 15 and 16, parents of Moray Primary School pupils claim there was still no hot water available in the school last week.

According to one parent, who did not want to be named, the school has been without hot water since the flooding, which happened on the first day back at school for some pupils.

Speaking last Friday, the parent said: “With the current COVID-19 pandemic I think it is a disgrace the school still doesn’t have any hot water. Seemingly Falkirk Council thinks it’s acceptable to have only cold water for staff and pupils to wash their hands.

“I’m seriously concerned for my child’s safety with not being able to wash their hands in hot water after using the toilets, but more significantly to stop the spread of COVID-19 given the NHS guidance is for people to wash their hands for 20 seconds in hot water.”

Another parent said Falkirk Council was putting their children and the school staff at an increased level of danger they did not need to be exposed to.

A Falkirk Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the boiler room was flooded at Moray Primary School as a result of the storm on August 12. A temporary boiler was installed the weekend of the August 15/16 to take over the function of the main boiler to ensure hot water was available when pupils returned to school.”