11:40am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Rory McKeown
A BRIDGWATER father has hit out after his sons' primary school was shut three times in under a fortnight because of a malfunctioning boiler.
Somerset County Council confirmed Hamp Infants School has been shut six times already this term - three times because of the January snow and another three times due to the boiler.
Dave Jacobs, who sons Jordan, six, and Ben, four, attend the school, believes their education could be suffering as a result and he claims there have been longstanding problems with the boiler.
Dave said: “There are stories in the news of kids not going to school but these are children who want to go to school but can't.
“I know a lot of other parents feel the same way as I do and something needs to be done about it.”
A Somerset County School spokesman said: “The school was closed on January 6, 7, 8 due to the heavy snow fall and February 23 and 24 and March 5 because of the heating.
“Indications are that the boiler dates from the early 80s, however the attached burner is not as old as that.
“This boiler and burner are fully serviceable at present, and like any other piece of complicated equipment can suffer component breakdown.
“Somerset County Council service oil-fired boilers bi-annually to industry standards. All service reports are fully checked by council engineers to ensure any issues are dealt with in a timely manner.”
DO your children go to Hamp Infant School? Have they been affected by the closures? Have your by using the comment box below.
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