Emergency services were called to Cathedral Primary in Park Street, Motherwell last night (Monday 12 February) after fire broke out in a wing of the school that was in the process of being demolished.

Cathedral Primary – which has a roll of around 430 pupils – was empty at the time of the incident and no-one was hurt.

The majority of the damage is restricted to the devastation of the empty sandstone building; however, there is some smoke and water damage to the end of the school closest to the fire. This has affected the adjacent teaching accommodation, with the loss of teaching materials and equipment that will need to be replaced.

Other classrooms were unaffected by the fire and the school will open normally to all pupils on Wednesday after the current mid-term break.

Two primary seven classes, who were previously accommodated within the damaged building, are currently being taught within St Bride's Church hall while North Lanarkshire Council progresses plans to rebuild Cathedral Primary on a new location on Milton Street. Pupils and staff moved out of the old sandstone building on Monday 15 January 2007.

North Lanarkshire Council's Head of Education Provision, Murdo Maciver, said: "This is a shocking incident; however, we are fortunate that most of the damage is to part of the school that was not in use and was being demolished, which minimises the impact on our pupils' learning and teaching.

"Obviously the health and safety of pupils and staff is our main concern and we are working with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the council's own building control officers to ensure that the remainder of the school is safe for their return. And we will be undertaking a special clean of the school to minimise any effects of the smoke and water damage and to ensure our children receive as uninterrupted an education as possible at this time.

"It is obviously far too early to speculate about the cause of the fire, but we will assist both Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police with their investigations in every way possible and I would encourage anyone with information to contact the police as a matter of urgency.

Local elected member, Councillor Annita McAuley, said: "Like other members of the local community, I was very saddened to see part of Cathedral Primary in flames last night; although we should all be thankful that no one appears to have been injured or harmed.

"Cathedral Primary has educated generations of Motherwell people and, while we all look forward to seeing the new school in place in due course, this is a very sad end to the old building, of which so many people will have fond memories.

"At this time, we do not know the cause of the fire and what brought about the demise of the old building; however, if anyone does have any information, I urge them to alert the relevant authorities as soon as possible."

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