Pupils return to Abraham Darby Academy

Schoolchildren made a return today to the Abraham Darby Academy less than two weeks since a steel canopy collapsed at the site of the new school.

Pupils from Year Seven were told to return today while the remainder of the academy is expected back tomorrow. Ironbridge Road was closed outside the site today as health and safety officials began the work to remove the canopy from the new academy.

The canopy collapsed late last month.

The road closure meant parents picking up their children from the academy this afternoon had to use a diversion route along Woodside Avenue to collect pupils.

The same diversion will be in place for parents tomorrow afternoon as inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive oversee the operation.

The large diggers have been brought in to begin clearing up the mess after the steel structure collapsed on August 25, injuring five builders.

The men were hurt after the canopy came down on the same day that pupils at the adjacent Abraham Darby Academy were collecting their GCSE results.

Last week Telford & Wrekin Council bosses revealed taxpayers would not be hit with a repair bill.

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

He moved to assure residents the company was doing everything it could to investigate how the incident happened and to ensure the project could move forward 'safely and successfully'.

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

He said the firm would 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.

By Jason Lavan