Drumragh Integrated College has closed for the summer holidays three days earlier than planned as a precautionary measure following the discovery of asbestos in pipes in a basement. In a letter to parents, the school's principal Nigel Frith said that the basement is not being used by the college and has been sealed off. In addition, the asbestos will be removed from the site by experts during the summer. Tests have also been carried out within the building and preliminary results seem to indicate that there is no cause for alarm. The building will be checked thoroughly during the summer break.
The decision to close the college immediately was taken by the Board of Governors as a precautionary measure as the safety of staff and students was a key concern. The firm intention is to open as usual in September, "In the certainty that all the problems have been dealt with." The college which occupies part of the old Tyrone and Fermanagh psychiatric hospital at Domaghanie Road, Omagh, has been due to get a new £10.2 million school building since 2001 and after a host of delays, work is now finally underway which resulted in the asbestos discovery. The Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) has begun a programme of work to identify and remove any asbestos from the college, along with other hospital sites in the area. This is part of the programme we reported in the May 2007 Monthly Bulletin, which saw almost £400,000 being allocated to the WHSCT to resolve asbestos problems at hospitals and ancillary buildings in Omagh.
Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials are damaged. Experts believe that in a damaged state there is no safe level of contact with asbestos fibres. Removal of the pipe work was due to begin on 9 July 2007.
