Gas leak forces school closure for second day

It is the second day running that more than 200 pupils and staff have been ordered to keep out from St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Newport Road.
There is no indication yet as to when the gas will have dropped to levels safe enough for lessons to resume.
The alert was first raised shortly after 9.10am on Tuesday and pupils were sent to nearby Winchcombe School while they waited for parents to pick them up.
Spokeswoman for Southern Gas Networks, Claire Buchanan, said: at the time: “We were called to the school this morning following reports of a gas leak. The school had already evacuated 198 pupils and 35 staff when our team arrived.
“Our engineers quickly ensured the safety of the site by turning off the main gas supply to the affected area. They’ve started to investigate the cause of the problem so that repairs can take place.”
In an initial statement, West Berkshire Council spokesman Keith Ulyatt said: “The smell of gas was noticed by staff at the school this morning. Pupils had already arrived. The evacuation procedure was put in place and all pupils accordingly assembled on the school playing field. This was approximately 9.30am.
“The procedure worked extremely and pupils were walked to nearby Winchcombe School in accordance with evacuation plans. Parents were then contacted, and most came to take their children home within in a short time. Others were cared for at the The Winchcombe School. Southern Gas Networks were on site at St Joseph’s school within a short time. The latest update is that the leak, identified as being under the playground, has been capped. Gas engineers will stay on site until the site is safe. At present it is not known when that will be, so the school remains closed.”
Then, at 5.15pm yesterday, Mr Ulyatt confirmed the school would remain closed today while checks are carried out by Southern Gas Networks to ensure the building is safe.
He said: “Southern Gas (Networks) are still on site. They will stay on site until the levels have reduced to within safe limits. Southern Gas can not confirm when this may be.”
Mr Ulyatt said that, even if gas levels had dropped sufficiently overnight last night, Southern Gas Networks would still have to undertake further testing before they could certify the building as safe - hence the decision to close the school today.
He added: “The school have notified parents this afternoon and updated their website.”