The chairman of Dunvegan Primary Parent Council has accused Highland Council of making false promises, declaring “now is the time to deliver a new school”.
Elgar Finlay, chairman of Dunvegan Parent Council, says he was refused access by staff to a classroom affected by a water leak – an order Mr Finlay says was instructed from “powers above”.
Mr Finlay said: “I was informed by staff that no parents were allowed access to the room affected which I found staggering in a school that operates an open door policy.
“Workmen were pumping water from the room out of the window into an area that drains straight back into where it has come from. You couldn’t make it up.
“The Highland Council issued a statement telling us the room would be pumped dry and a dehumidifier would be placed in the affected room.
“There are no dehumidifiers in the room aside from an existing one which has not been working for over a month now as it was leaking water.
“It feels like broken promises are now the norm. We were promised we were on the list for a new school and that hasn’t happened.
“Now is the time to deliver on promises. Now is the time to deliver a new school and now is the time to get spades in the ground.”
The revelations come after a video released this week showed water pouring into a disused plant room below a classroom at the north Skye School.
A spokeswoman for the Highland Council said it was “quite appropriate” for only authorised persons to have access.
She added: “While a dehumidifier was already on site, it has now been clarified this was in fact not working, and therefore the Council has arranged for a replacement dehumidifier for the classroom to assist with the drying out.
“There is no immediate concern regarding the structural integrity of the walls, though further inspections by a structural engineer are being arranged as a precaution.
“Despite these issues over the past 24-48 hours, the school has remained open and following discussion with the Head Teacher, it has been agreed to take the classroom above the basement out of use while further inspections take place.”
The Highland Council has said investigations are underway to discover the root of the flooding issue with field drains to divert water being considered as one potential solution. A letter has also been issued to parents to relay information relating to events of the past few days.
The council spokeswoman added: “The Council will make available to parents any reports or inspections being undertaken as a result of the issues in the past few days, to provide further assurance.”