HEARTLESS thieves caused thousands of pounds of damage at a special school just hours after a brand new state-of-the-art facility was opened.
Rosebank School at Barnton is now facing a huge repair bill after lead flashing was stolen from the roof of its £150,000 Therapy and Music room, which opened on Friday after four years of dedicated fundraising.
The thieves, who struck over the weekend, tore off massive sections of roofing to get to the lead, leaving gaping holes and water leaking into the room below.
Furious headteacher Helen Johnson said: “We are all both angry and saddened by this vandalism. It’s the third time it’s happened in a few months.
“Rosebank is a small school and it has taken years of saving, working and planning to finally build this extension.
“The new rooms were to accommodate a range of therapies which are so important to our pupils, who have autism and complex learning difficulties.”
Rosebank last week received a glowing report from the National Autistic Society, and spirits were high on Friday when Manchester BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performed a specially composed song with pupils to mark the opening of the state-of-the-art facility.
Helen said that in order to foot the repair bill, which will cost at least £3,000, the school may be forced to make cutbacks in other areas.
“There is no insurance cover available for vandalism,” she said. “The cost of the repairs will have to come from the school budget. This means less money to pay for the specialist educational programmes and high levels of support which our pupils need.
“We might even have to lose a member of staff to meet the costs if it keeps happening.”
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call police on 0845 4580000, or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.
