Level of asbestos in East Ayrshire schools revealed

A Freedom of Information request from the Chronicle to East Ayrshire Council looked to find out the number of schools, and which schools, in East Ayrshire where asbestos has been found, as well as the number of asbestos items listed by type for each school.

In total, figures found there were 1,653 items across primary and secondary schools.

Catrine Primary School. (Image: Street view)

They were split between 870 items of chrysotile, 780 of amosite and three items of crocidolite.

Chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos) are said to be the three most common types of asbestos found in buildings.

Annual inspections take place in establishments, and it is then decided whether the level of asbestos needs to be treated or removed.

Although asbestos can be hazardous to health, materials containing asbestos are not initially dangerous if they are not disturbed and are in good condition.

Drongan Primary School. (Image: Street view)

Data also found that the levels discovered in Catrine, Bellsbank, Dalmellington, Dalrymple, Drongan, Logan, Muirkirk, Ochiltree and St Patrick's primaries would have to be treated or removed.

Doon Academy. (Image: Newsquest)

Items found in Catrine, Drongan and Muirkirk Early Childhood Centres, and Doon Academy will also require treatment or removal following further inspections.

Information from the latest FOI bears some resemblance to data revealed by the local authority to the Chronicle in 2022.

This included the same number of items being found in Catrine nursery, Catrine primary, Drongan primary and Logan primary.

The local authority response added: "The majority of these removals will have been prompted to facilitate the safety of refurbishment or demolition works, while the remainder will have been prompted by the condition of the material at the time of the inspection.

"EAC undertake an annual re-inspection of all asbestos identified to monitor its condition for any deterioration.

Ochiltree Primary School. (Image: Street view)

"EAC have a unique management plan for each site. It should also be noted that the council has had a long-standing capital programme which has, over time, removed older buildings with asbestos content, such as Auchinleck, Cumnock, James Hamilton, Grange, St Joseph’s and Kilmarnock Academies, and replaced them with new buildings which have no asbestos content.

"All asbestos in our buildings is managed and all non-domestic buildings have a specific management plan.

St Patrick's Primary School. (Image: Street view)

"All asbestos in our buildings is checked in terms of its condition at least on an annual basis by qualified personnel."

The schools with asbestos items found and the quantity of each item:

Catrine ECC – Chrysotile (5)
Catrine Primary School – Chrysotile (46) and Amosite (5)
Crosshouse ECC – Chrysotile (15) and Amosite (3)
Dalrymple Primary School – Chrysotile (52) and Amosite (3)
Darvel Primary School – Chrysotile (5)
Doon Academy – Chrysotile (162) and Amosite (611)
Drongan Primary School – Chrysotile (27) Amosite (8) Crocidolite (1)
Dunlop Primary School – Chrysotile (1)
Fenwick Primary School – Chrysotile (14)
Hillhead Primary School – Chrysotile (27)
Hurlford Primary School – Chrysotile (1)
Kilmaurs Primary School – Chrysotile (16) and Amosite (12)
Lainshaw Primary School – Chrysotile (52)
Loanhead Primary School – Chrysotile (1)
Logan Primary School – Chrysotile (47) and Amosite (1)
Loudoun Academy – Chrysotile (125) Amosite (117) and Crocidolite (1)
Mount Carmel Primary School – Chrysotile (38) and Crocidolite (1)
Nether Robertland Primary School – Chrysotile (38) and Amosite (2)
Newmilns Primary School – Chrysotile (43) and Amosite (3)
Ochiltree Primary School – Chrysotile (12) and Amosite (2)
Onthank Primary School – Chrysotile (73) and Amosite (3)
St Patrick’s Primary School – Chrysotile (42) and Amosite (10)
St Sophia’s Primary School – Chrysotile (10)
Stewarton Academy – Chrysotile (18)