A school in Baldock has had to shut to its doors for the rest of term after severe flooding overnight, causing an estimated £10,000 worth of damage.
Contaminated water flooded St Mary’s Infant School in St Mary’s Way overnight, with an assessor deciding the school – which was due to finish for the summer on Wednesday – cannot reopen before the start of the autumn term.
Headteacher Claire Gunn told the Comet that the water marks were as high as 12 inches in some places, with major flooding in a particular classroom, as well as in corridors, the hall, library, kitchen, toilets, the staff room and her office.
“We think it’s come in through the doors and it’s affected the central part of the school,” she said.
“Because a lot of it is contaminated water which has come from the drains we cannot reopen the school.
“Some of the classrooms haven’t been flooded, but we cannot use them because of the dirty water.”
Asked why she thought the flooding was so bad, Mrs Gunn added: “We are down a hill and it’s just flooded through the doors.
“We’ve never had this happen at the school before, but I don’t know if it’s a bit of a fluke where the rain has fallen so heavily and so quickly.
“We are very grateful for all the offers of help and support from parents and I’d like to thank them for that. But unfortunately we cannot take them up on their offers because of the dirty water.”
An assessor estimates the damage may be in excess of £10,000 following a visit this morning, but the school cannot begin the clean-up operation until its insurers have also inspected the site.
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