No doors will be cut to boost covid ventilation in classrooms

A controversial Scottish Government measure aimed at improving ventilation and cutting covid risk in schools will not go ahead in Renfrewshire.Council bosses have confirmed that the under-cutting of classroom doors is not a Coronavirus safety move being considered in the area’s schools.The measure had drawn criticism from fire brigade leaders, concerned over the impact on safety.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week provoked controversy by claiming that cutting the bottom off some school classroom doors to improve ventilation was “basic common sense”.The government has handed out £5 million to Scottish councils to help improve air flow in classrooms and battle the spread of covid.Measures to help reduce risk include installing air filters and fans but some £300,000 was earmarked for work to cut down doors to aid airflow. Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire.

Sign up to our newsletters here. But the move drew criticism from firefighters union bosses, who called for urgent multi-agency talks over the measure.They said their concerns combined with those harboured over the Scottish Government’s recent move to make inter-linked smoke and heat alarms mandatory in private homes since February 1.Ian Sim, FBU Scotland regional secretary, said: “The safety of school students and staff, our members and the general public is paramount.“At the moment there is too much uncertainty and mixed messaging over these two very important fire safety issues, in particular, the potential fire risk that comes from