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School's opening day hit by works
A primary school was unable to open today after contractors Weldon Plant failed to complete a road leading to the new building.
Kingswood Primary School, in Southbrook, Corby, is now expected to open on Monday.
The firm is said by Corby Council to be facing financial difficulties and workers have left the site of three key building schemes in the town this week, leaving them unfinished.
Managing director of Keepmoat Homes Midlands, which awarded the contract for roads and sewers on its Kingswood development to Weldon Plant, said: "A few days ago our site manager informed us that the contractor appointed to carry out pre-construction infrastructure work on the site – Weldon Plant – had stopped work.
"Since then we have attempted, without success, to contact the company to establish why and what the situation is regarding completion of the contract – including the surfacing of the road to the school.
"Today we have begun the process of finding another contractor to complete this road and hope to see this done as quickly as possible so that the new school year can properly begin."
Keepmoat Homes is building 140 homes for sale and rent on Kingswood estate on the former Lincoln Way, near to the primary school, which has 256 pupils. Surfacing of Southbrook was to have been completed in time for pupils returning after the summer break.
Headteacher Russ Findlay said: "We're not pleased about the situation but we had to postpone the opening.
"Without a road to the school we would have been unable to get emergency vehicles on to the site. We have contacted parents by text.
"The closure of the road has caused us problems during the school holiday.
"We've had tradesmen in to install new windows and carpets and it has
been difficult for them to get equipment into the school.
"It's also caused parking problems for staff who are having to leave their cars all over the place because they can't get up to the school.
"It's disappointing. Children and staff were all prepared for the start of the new academic year. We have been given a guarantee the road will be ready for Monday."
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Weather for Kettering
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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Sunny spells
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