A FORMAL backing has been given for more than £0.5m of urgent repairs to a Pembrokeshire seaside school, but concerns were raised an escalated need was only discovered by one of the governors through press reports.
Last month, a special individual Cabinet member meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council saw leader Cllr Jon Harvey award a £555,946.17 contract to Trident Engineering GBR Ltd to carry out urgent concrete repair and protection works at Ysgol Greenhill, Tenby.
A survey report by Trident identified 750 faults at the school following a survey in July 2024, with further inspections this February.
A total of 750 defects were recorded, including spalled concrete, cracks (horizontal and vertical) in concrete slabs, beams, columns and soffits, failed repairs, failed coatings, honeycombing to concrete, damage / cracks in panels, cracking to brickwork, with an increase in defective areas across the structure since the July survey.
“We have observed an alarming acceleration in corrosion-related degradation due to the saline environment, leading to further concrete fracture, spalling, and delamination,” the report said.
It added: “This deterioration poses a significant risk, as sizeable debris has been witnessed falling from the structure, endangering pedestrians and potentially damaging vehicles and surrounding infrastructure.
“Our recent revisit surveys indicate that the cracks are expanding monthly, and the overall degradation is expected to worsen as thermal movement increases in response to climatic changes.
“We recommend undertaking the necessary remedial works with immediate effect. If we delay initiating the works, we will incur additional surveillance costs, which could have been avoided. Moreover, it is of utmost importance to note that some columns have lost enough structural mass to bring their integrity into question.
“Trident cannot endorse the continued use of the structure unless emergency repairs are initiated promptly.”
Since the award of that contract, a report was brought to the May meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, where members were asked to note the decision at the special meeting.
Cllr Harvey, moving approval, said work was progressing well at the school.
Cllr Alistair Cameron, a school governor, asked if there was any danger of escalating costs, and was assured there were currently no concerns.
Fellow governor, Cllr Alec Cormack raised concerns about the communication of the recent urgent need for works, telling members he had only heard about the accelerated need following press reports.
Members were told the March Road element of the works was being prioritised, expected to be finished by September.
Members overwhelmingly agreed to note the reasons for the urgent decision taken by the Leader.
