Collapsed Abraham Darby Academy roof will be removed

The collapsed steel canopy at Telford's new £35 million Abraham Darby Academy will be removed "piece by piece" next week to be examined.

Ironbridge Road outside the school in Madeley will be closed for two days while heavy machinery is brought in to remove the canopy.

Every part of the structure will then be examined as part of the investigation by the Health & Safety Executive into why the canopy collapsed last week injuring five workers.

Richard Collin, regional framework manager for developers Kier Moss, today said the company was doing everything it could to get the project moving again.

He said: "The next stage will be to systematically remove the collapsed steel canopy, piece by piece, in order to assess each of the individual parts."

He added: "Please be assured we are doing everything we can to investigate how the incident happened, to ensure the project can move forward safely and successfully."

The road closure will see traffic unable to access Ironbridge Road from 10.30am Monday until early evening, and from 9.45am Tuesday until the early evening.

Mr Collin added residents of The Keep estate next to the school would have access to their homes at all times.

He said the firm will not be carrying out any work on the academy building itself until a full structural survey has been completed, but has been given permission from the Health & Safety Executive to resume work on areas which were unaffected by the incident.