The city closes daycare after asbestos is found: « The health of our children and employees is paramount » (Ostend)
The daycare center is closed for the time being. – © Jeffrey Roos
Daycare center Panukkel in Ostend was immediately closed on Tuesday after asbestos was found above a lowered ceiling. The parents were immediately notified. The city will open a new, temporary accommodation for the children next Tuesday. « At any time, there was a risk of the health of the children, the employees and the visitors, » it sounds.
The city is currently working on a round where all city buildings are checked for asbestos, among others. During such a check, asbestos was found on Tuesday in a few places at daycare center Panukkel. The asbestos was above the lowered ceiling. « When we received the results, we decided to immediately take all possible precautions, » says ships Charlotte Verkeyn (N-VA).
An additional investigation was conducted after the daycare closing. Further samples showed that the classrooms themselves would not be infected. « At any time, there was a risk to the health of the children, the employees and the visitors, » it sounds. The city is now looking for a contractor who wants to start removing the asbestos as quickly as possible.
New place
The parents were immediately informed of the closure. « The health and well-being of our children and employees is paramount, » says Kinderopvang Maxim Donck (N-VA). « That is why we acted quickly and decisively. Thanks to the collaboration with AZ Oostende, we quickly found a new, warm place. »
Currently, various spaces are being prepared in AZ Oostende to catch the children. The children can go there from next Tuesday. The operation of the daycare center is retained as much as possible. The opening times remain the same and the familiar employees move to the temporary location. The flexibility and deployment of everyone to get Panukkel operational in such a short time at a different location is particularly strong, « says Mayor John Crombez (Vooruit Plus). (JRO)
