'Danger crane' will stay for 40 weeks

This week Bexhill mums campaigning for the safety of their children at school heard the news they dreaded.

The huge crane situated on the building site next to St Mary Magdalene's RC School has been reassembled and is to stay put for 40 weeks.

Parents have contacted the Observer to say they believe the closeness of the crane is a danger to the youngsters and want it moved to the western side of St Paul's Walk.

They say it hangs over the roof which has glass panels and children have on occasion been frightened.

Now some have pledged to keep their children at home - for up to a year if necessary.

Lindsay Baker, of Pebsham Lane, has two boys at St Mary Magdalene's - Ryan, who is 10, and Harry, just five.

She said: "I haven't decided yet what to do. But they are not going back while the crane is up, I know that much.

"My children are precious to me and I cannot put them at risk."

Her son Ryan said: "I am scared of it. I keep having dreams about it."

Lindsay and other mothers - Nicky Bowman, of Pebsham Lane, and Susan Wheeler, of Roundacres - met this week with Neil Hutchinson, the site manager for Allum Developers and Contractors, head teacher Angela Brennan, representatives of the board of governors, plus health and safety executive.

As a result, they were hoping for a further meeting to discuss possible re-positioning of the crane during the months ahead while two six-storey blocks of flats are being built, containing 51 flats.

The mothers also collected signatures for a petition to show their opposition, and on Thursday held a protest outside the school gates with their sons and daughters.

They have looked into accidents involving cranes on the internet and found that there was a fatal accident in Battersea in September, and another incident in Durrington High School in Worthing when a crane collapsed and killed two people in October last year.

The crane at St James' Walk was taken down two weeks ago so that safety issues could be addressed - for instance, a smashed window in the driver's cab temporarily covered with a piece of hardboard which restricted the panoramic view.

The mothers claim that safety assessments on the crane showed there was a suspected fault with the slew, which is the gears on the turning point.

Sue Wheeler said: "A damaged slew could cause a crane to twist and fall, or collapse. It is a safety issue."

"If the crane fell, it would come down over the school. It could not be in a more dangerous position."

The mothers learned of the decision to re-assemble the crane via letters from the school sent home with the children on Tuesday.

Lindsay felt there had been support and concern from other parents, and added: "Once that thing is operational and starts swinging round in high winds, I guarantee there will be trouble.

"People will start getting scared then."

Nicky Bowman said she had no choice but to remove her children from the school and nursery "until the time this is resolved."

A meeting on Wednesday between Allum Developers and the school resulted in a decision that the crane would stay put, with regular weekly independent inspections by McAlpine Construction, plus assurances from the crane driver that he would check bolts before using the equipment.

Acting head teacher Angela Brennan sent out a letter following this meeting which said the parents' concerns had been put to Terry Allum and the crane operator had been called in to describe his role.

"Although the crane is to remain in its present position, the meeting was satisfied that everything is being done to ensure that it is being operated safely."

She told parents: "We will continue to be vigilant for the safety of your children and all who come on to our school premises."

Councillor Peter Fairhurst has had a lifetime connection with the school.

He said: "I am not happy the crane is still there, but it is a fact of life and there is no way that it is going to be moved. But it has all been done as it should be, and more.

"I am sure that what has been done makes everything absolutely safe."