Aberdeen school’s £80,000 gas bill – 18 months after it shut

AN ABERDEEN school has racked up a heating bill for £81,512 – despite being shut for 18 months.

The boiler at the Oakbank residential school on Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen, was left running after the school shut down with spiralling debts.

The trustees – including five Labour and Tory Aberdeenn councillors – were sent the bill by Scottish and Southern Energy.

A letter from the board’s lawyer said the money had “literally been burnt”.

Despite just two of Oakbank School’s former 104-strong workforce remaining employed at the Aberdeen site, the entire building has been heated since its closure in August 2008.

The board’s lawyer, David McLeod, of legal firm Paull and Williamsons, wrote to the Oakbank School trustees saying SSE now planned to apply for a warrant to disconnect the gas supply.

Mr McLeod wrote: “The only explanation he (the SSE representative) could think of is that it is an old boiler which runs the heating system and the heating system has been kept running.

“If this is correct, then this debt represents a very substantial sum of money which has literally been burnt.”

The keys of the former Oakbank School in Aberdeen are due to be handed over in autumn to Aberdeen-based developer Carlton Rock, which has put forward plans for a £50m business park – to be discussed at a public hearing.

Board vice-chairman Alan Donnelly said SSE had been asked to “check the meters” at the loss-making school.

He said any outstanding debt would be paid from the £7m received for the Oakbank site.

dewen@ajl.co.uk