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Kingussie school water supply reconnected





The severed pipe can be seen in the foreground in the Gynack
The severed pipe can be seen in the foreground in the Gynack

Pupils at Badenoch and Strathspey’s largest school are enjoying a third day off today (Friday) after workmen severed a water mains pipe whilst carrying out flood alleviation improvements.

Kingussie High School was left without water when the supply pipe was cut on Tuesday evening whilst the nearby Gynack was being dredged.

The water supply has now been restored and the school is due to re-open on Monday.

A number of preliminary examinations for senior pupils have had to be postponed due to the closure.

These will all be rescheduled for later next week. Exams will resume following the existing timetable from Monday.

Headteacher Ollie Bray said: "Unfortunately the school closure has been completely out of our control.

"The irony of the situation is that it was caused due to preventative measure being in put in place to stop parts of Kingussie - including the school - flooding and therefore having to close.

"We really have had a run of bad luck when it comes to school closures in recent years but we have survived building works, heating problems, snow, wind, flooding and now no water.

"I have warned staff to prepare for the possibility of a volcanic eruption and plague of locust as I can’t think of anything else that we might be hit with!

"We have re-arranged the prelim examinations that we have had to postpone and they will all take place before the February break."

Precautionary measures had to be followed after the incident to ensure that the school’s water supply was not contaminated meaning the classrooms could not re-open.

Senior school staff were notified of the damage at 10pm on Tuesday and immediately started to make arrangements to close the school the next day including notifying parents on the school’s Facebook page.

Emergency repairs were carried out during the day on Wednesday and water was restored to the building at approximately 9.30pm.

The system was flushed yesterday morning (Thursday) and contractors identified some problems with water pressure which are currently being addressed.

Water samples have since been sent to the laboratory and theyare expected to get the ‘all clear’ but it takes approximately 24 hours for the results to be returned.

A council spokesperson said: "Although the toilets are now working and the school has a supply of bottled and potable water for cooking and drinking, the washing of hands remains a problem until we can be sure that the re-connected water supply if fit for purpose.

"As a result Kingussie High School has remained closed today but will re-open on Monday (February 9) at 8.55am."


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