URGENT safety checks are to be carried out this week at five local schools.

It follows the indefinite emergency closure of 17 Edinburgh schools built by the same company, Miller Construction, because of concerns about the standard of work.

Miller were the main contractor on public-private partnership (PPP) schools built in Inverclyde between 2009/2011- Notre Dame High, Clydeview Academy, Aileymill Primary and All Saints Primary.

Another school, Whinhill Primary, was refurbished by Miller in 2011/12, but not under the PPP arrangement.

Inverclyde's schools are still closed for the Easter holidays, and are due to re-open on Tuesday.

Edinburgh's were scheduled to open again yesterday,but no date has been set for that to happen because Edinburgh Schools Partnership, which operates the schools, could not provide safety assurances.

Problems with the Edinburgh schools were discovered earlier this month following the collapse of a wall at a primary in the capital in January.

Similar issues were found at three other schools in Edinburgh, and all four were shut temporarily. Now that number has risen to 17.

The SNP and Liberal Democrats in Inverclyde are demanding safety assurances.

SNP leader Councillor Chris McEleny said: "I have requested that the relevant council officials confirm to me that schools in Inverclyde are safe, and that the issues found in Edinburgh with schools built under similar funding schemes are not apparent here.

"It is absolutely paramount we get guarantees that the issues that mean similarly built Edinburgh schools can't be deemed safe don't exist in Inverclyde.

"The schools are off for another week, and it is very important that the parent community get this guarantee before the return in a week's time."
Greenock and Inverclyde LibDem Holyrood candidate, John Watson said:

“Council bosses must act quickly to reassure pupils, parents and staff that local schools are safe before schools restart after the spring holiday.”

Greenock /Central West LibDem Councillor Kenny Shepherd added: “I have written to Inverclyde Council chief executive, John Mundell, seeking clarification of the situation. It is important that parents have immediate reassurances about the safety of local school buildings.” 

The council says it has been 'in dialogue' with its PPP provider since the Edinburgh situation came to light.

A spokesman said: "In Inverclyde we have four schools built by Miller under the PPP scheme where the provider is fully responsible for the design, build and maintenance of the school properties.

"We also have another school which was refurbished by Miller and which is directly managed by Inverclyde Council. We have instructed physical on-site inspections of the refurbished school which is managed by the Council.

"Following dialogue with the PPP provider for the other four schools, arrangements are being finalised for them to carry out urgent inspections on those schools.

"While the early indications have been that the situation in Edinburgh is not expected to exist in our schools, we are clear that we require assurances through inspections that this is the case.

"Fortunately, our schools are currently closed for the spring break and don’t re-open until Tuesday. The surveys will be carried out during this period while the schools are closed to allow schools to re-open as normal."

He added: "Given this is an emerging situation, we will be keeping that position under review and will inform parents immediately if it were to change.”

The number of pupils attending each of the Inverclyde schools is: Notre Dame – 811; Clydeview – 966; Aileymill – 429; All Saints – 358 and Whinhill – 323.