ELECTRIC lights are being left on inside the old Dalkeith High School building — to protect vandals and intruders from hurting themselves.
The astonishing revelation that the lights are left burning for the vandals' benefit rather than the building's, came after former Conservative MSP candidate for Midlothian, P J Lewis, said he had been "appalled" to see the lights left on — years aft
er the school's closure — while he was out inspecting the site with local residents.
He said: "All the lights are on and there is no adequate management of access or controls against vandalism.
"It's shocking, an unbelievable triple whammy, with fire risk, expense and environmental waste.
Confirmation"It was bad enough that we could drive on site uncontrolled; if we can, so can any vandal, which is why the windows are now being broken."
Mr Lewis said that he wanted confirmation council tax payers were not picking up the bill for the decision to leave the lights on and added: "It typifies the shoddy way the council runs its assets and has handled Dalkeith High School in particular."
However, a council spokesman said that a security bill amounting to £13,000 over a three and a half year period, is not very high considering it involves the protection of a building worth millions of pounds, but that inevitably some of the money will have come from tax payers.
SecuritySpeaking of the energy waste involved, Midlothian Green Party spokesman, Ian Baxter, said it was "absurd" that the lights were left on for intruders who are likely to damage the building and should not even be there.
He said: "I would rather see our streets lit up, to make it safer for people walking down them."
The council revealed: "The old Dalkeith High School site has been under offer to Wimpey Homes since November 2004 and responsibility for the security of the listed building currently lies with the council.
"A risk assessment was carried out on the property at the time of closure.
"This resulted in the boarding up of all ground floor windows to prevent access, retention of an operating burglar alarm and the carrying out of daily inspections of the property.
Intruders"In addition to this the council has contracted a security company to carry out mobile visits twice a night.
"Some lights — including some on timers — are left on during the winter months to protect potential intruders from fall hazards.
"Midlothian Council as owners of the property have an obligation to do this under duty of care."
nAn outraged P J Lewis is seen outside the old Dalkeith High School, where the lights can be seen burning brightly.
