THURROCK Council has been accused of having an 'uncaring' attitude to local schools in the wake of news that there will be disruption to the start of the new term because of fears about a form of concrete use to build or extend them.

Nub News reported yesterday (Friday, 1 September) on the situation in Thurrock following revelations about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

There will be disruption at at least four schools, St Clere's, Thameside, East Tilbury and Arthur Bugler, though a piece of inter-school co-operation means that students at St Clere's and Arthur Bugler have already been found alternate premises.

The CEO of the ORTU Trust, which runs Gable Hall and Hassenbrook schools - as well as Corringham primary which is marginally affected by RAAC - is Kevin Sadler and he has told Nub News: "Hassenbrook Academy is working with the Department of Education and the Osbourne trust to support St Clere's and Arthur Buglar in their time of need.  

"We are making the Hassenbrook's Sixth form building available to accommodate those classes from both schools whilst the remedial works take place."

Meanwhile Thurrock Council's Labour leader Cllr John kent, who raised the issue of RAAC with the authority and its portfolio holder Cllr Adam Carter, in June, has been critical of the authority.

He has accused Thurrock Conservatives of complete indifference to local children's education.

Cllr Kent said: "In June I alerted Cllr Carter to the potential problem of Thurrock schools that may have been constructed using  reinforced aerated concrete.

 "Cllr Carter's response basically was 'I don't know … and I'm not going to find out'.

 "Now, just days before schools return from the long summer break, we discover that pupils of Arthur Bugler, East Tilbury, St Clere's, and Thameside will have their education disrupted because they are at risk of collapse.

 "We know from the recent Best Value Report into the Conservatives stewardship of Thurrock Council, that Tory Councillors were "unconscious incompetent" as they watched on as the council went bust!

 "Clearly lessons have not been learned. They just added complete indifference to that skillset.

 "Thurrock is completely broken, and the Tories have just given up. There's not even a pretence of caring".