Kingston Council has set aside over £1.7million to replace leaky roofs and out-of-date fire alarm systems, along with further repairs, at Lovelace Primary School in Chessington next year.

The council's corporate and resources committee approved the addition of £758,000 to the original £971,788 budget for the works on 30 November. Later in the meeting, the committee also awarded a contract for the repairs to CityAxis Ltd, at an expected cost of £1,344,751.

It comes after a survey of the school showed four roofs and fire alarm systems had come to the end of their working lives and needed to be replaced. It also revealed further repairs needed to be carried out on the window surrounds and doors of the building.

A council report said the authority originally allocated a budget of £971,778 for the project to address the "then known main issues regarding roof leaks and dilapidation, and required replacement of the fire alarm and detection systems within the buildings at the school".

It said the need for extra works had since come to light and required an addition of £758,000 to the budget, bringing it to £1,729,778.

The report said investing in the school to "replace the defective roofs and obsolete fire alarm system will address health and safety risks and improve the enjoyment and comfort for all users within the school". 

At the meeting, Lib Dem cllr Noel Hadjimichael added: "This is a balancing act. Council has a statutory responsibility to provide education environments that meet the health and safety, the environmental and building standards, required for this very important responsibility.

"Investing in our educational establishments to replace defective infrastructure such as roofs or obsolete fire alarm systems will address key health and safety risks, plus also improve and capture the opportunity to enhance the enjoyment and comfort of all users within the school location."

The works will be carried out from February to September 2024.