UP TO £200,000 is being spent fixing faults at Le Rondin. Work has included retiling two changing rooms, fixing minor leaks and improving ventilation control.
The school’s former head teacher, Jane Stephens, raised concerns about the building’s condition during her successful unfair dismissal tribunal hearing.
But Education has consistently played down fears about the school, which it says is still on budget.
Deputy Brian De Jersey was shown around earlier this week after one of his parishioners told him about the work.
‘As far as I’m concerned what the department has done it has done correctly, but it comes to the point again that Jane Stephens was correct.
‘There were things not right and seeing as it’s a special needs school you have got to be very careful.’
He added that officers from Education received him with courtesy.
The tiling being replaced is in the two changing areas by the hydrotherapy pool.
The initial work carried out by a local sub-contractor working for main contractor Dew Construction proved unsatisfactory, said a department spokesman.
‘Defects of this type are not unusual in any large building project and the Education Department retained significant monies, totalling some £200,000, from the main contractor to cover such eventualities.’
Work is ongoing but not expected to exceed that amount, added the spokesman.
‘When accepting practical completion of such a building, a snagging and defects list is drawn up and agreed and it is for the contractor to complete all the de-snagging and rectification works before release of the final retention monies.’
Midway through the 12-month defects liability period, Dew Construction went into receivership followed by liquidation in June.
‘This process has led to a delay in the completion of outstanding works which was unfortunately outside of the Education Department’s control,’ said the spokesman, ‘these outstanding works have not affected the operation of the school and centre.’
The retained money has also been used to rectify minor leaks from corridor rooflights, replace the cavity tray above the central corridor and improve the control of ventilation.
All this work has been carried out during the school holiday.
‘The project is still within the original budget and the department does not anticipate any further problems.
‘The same de-snagging and defect rectification process, as advised by the Treasury and Resources Department’s central States Property Services, has been followed for the Sixth Form Centre and the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts.’
Article posted on 1st September, 2007 - 12.00am
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