10:10am Tuesday 17th April 2007
By Dan Menhinnitt
Croydon Council has said it has spared no expense in attempts to eradicate traces of a potentially dangerous bacteria from a school and sports centre.
According to the council small traces of legionella bacteria were found at Selsdon High School and Monks Hill sports centre during routine checks before the Easter break.
The bacteria can cause Legionnaires' Disease, a type pneumonia.
Contractors have now treated the water systems both the school and the sports centre. A new cold-water storage tank has been installed temporarily at the school which will also serve the adjoining sports centre.
The temporary tank will be replaced by a steel water tank on order from Scotland.
Further tests were carried out yesterday to find any traces of the bacteria but the results take ten days to return.
The schools and sports centre will open at the earliest on April 30 and arrangements are being made for pupils to be able to continue with crucial work ahead of their exams.
Council consultant Ken Ashley, a former specialist inspector for the HSE and an expert on legionella, said: "It is important to stress that only very low levels of the bacteria were found and the council acted promptly by doing everything that is humanly possible to prevent it from becoming a problem. All we can do now is to wait until the results are back to check that the treatment and remedial works have been successful."
Cabinet member for public protection and crime reduction, Councillor Steve O'Connell, said: "Everything that can be done, has been done, to eliminate any risk posed by the low levels of bacteria that were found. However, we take our responsibilities for public health very seriously and cannot advise that either the school or the sports centre opens until we are totally satisfied that there is no risk."
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