Four teachers at landfill site schools with blue tap water contract cancer

A series of walkouts are being held by teachers at a school where tap water is blue, sparking fears over staff and pupil’s health.

Parents have backed the strike action at Buchanan and St Ambrose high schools in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, after four teachers contracted bladder cancer.

The schools are built on a domestic rubbish and steelworks waste material landfill site that closed in the 70s.

The local council has hit out at the teachers for going on strike and insist that the water is safe.


Buchanan High was closed yesterday when teachers descended on North Lanarkshire Council headquarters to protest. Next week teachers at St Ambrose High will strike for four days from Tuesday.



There is also a 16,000-strong petition demanding an investigation and for staff and pupils to be tested for toxins.

Josie Morgan, 41, has a son at Buchanan and she supported yesterday’s strike.

The tap water at two high schools in Scotland comes out blue (Picture: Mirrorpix)

Staff at Buchanan High School went on strike over fears that they could be being made ill (Picture: SWNS)

She said: ‘My heart breaks for the teachers at the school because they’ve got to go into that unsafe environment and aren’t allowed to speak out.

‘The strike shows the feeling and I’m not surprised by it, we can’t take chances when there is clearly something wrong with that site.

‘For people to only find out on Facebook about blue water shows how much has been covered up and it is very worrying.

‘The council have been a disgrace and it is no wonder that the staff have taken this action. That site should be closed down until we know for certain what is going on.

‘My main worry is what has been been dumped under the school and the effects it is having on pupils and staff.’

One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I’ve never been on strike before but it has come to the end of the line.

Parents and children support their teachers in the action they are taking (Picture: SWNS)

The local council insists that the water is safe to drink (Picture: SWNS)

‘We are deeply concerned about the issues surrounding the school and feel the only option left is to go on strike and show the feeling among not just parents but the staff as well.’

NASUWT spokesman Jane Peckham said: ‘I think the strike is sending a clear message with the amount of public and parental support that we have.

‘Teachers do not undertake strike action lightly, particularly teachers in these schools who are dedicated professionals, and they have not come to this decision on a whim but are extremely frustrated at the council’s apparent lack of acknowledgement of the concerns that they have.

‘We only became aware of concerns in the autumn of last year when a member raised a particular health issue.

‘Some members were anxious about what the reaction would be to the strike but the clear support shows parents and public are asking the same questions we are. It is a matter of grave concern.’

A boy stands at the picket line outside the school as the strike got underway yesterday (Picture: SWNS)

The schools are built on a former landfill site that closed in the 70s (Picture: SWNS)

North Lanarkshire Council head of education Gerard McLaughlin said: ‘Despite the facts being presented about the water being safe at the school campus and evidence demonstrating that it has been since early December and as recently as April 29, and that public health has stated there is no evidence to support a link between blue water at the school or the site itself and any serious ill health, the NASUWT has decided to take industrial action at Buchanan High School.



‘This follows extensive dialogue between senior council officials and representatives of the NASUWT over the last 24 hours.

‘We understand the impact that this will have on pupils and parents at Buchanan High School as a direct consequence of this action.

‘Having assessed the potential impact, we have regrettably decided that Buchanan High School will be unable to receive pupils during the period of industrial action due to the specific medical needs of some of the pupils.

‘Neither the school nor the council would ever take any risks with young people’s safety.

‘Despite our disappointment that the NASUWT has taken this decision, we will remain in dialogue with trade union officials over the coming days.’

The Scottish government set up a panel to look into health and safety fears as well as the history, construction and maintenance of the campus. The investigation is expected to be completed by the start of the next school year.

North Lanarkshire Council chief executive Des Murray said: ‘We welcome the support of the Government in providing further reassurance to the community.

‘Specialist doctors from NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed no incidence of cancer is linked to the schools. They also confirmed no other serious illness is connected to the schools or the site on which they are built. All the facts demonstrate that the schools and site on which they are built are safe.’

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