Youngsters at a village school near Whitehaven are unlikely to return to the classroom next month following a landslip on the cliff above.
Parton residents had to be evacuated last week and Main Road closed after the metre gap was spotted in the cliff face above St Bridget’s School.
Villagers were evacuated to the Ennerdale Country House Hotel in Cleator.
An update from Cumbria County Council said: “At the current time the risk to public safety remains and evacuation and road closures remain in place.
“Unfortunately, we cannot yet confirm how long these arrangements will remain in place.
“We strongly advise people to avoid the affected area and not return to homes if evacuated. Controlled access to homes can be facilitated if essential.
“Vegetation clearance work are now complete to allow for further detailed surveys.
“Geotechnical engineers have been on site today putting monitoring equipment in place to monitor the slope and any further movement.
“Intrusive survey work on the slope has begun – over the next few days we should have a clearer picture of the findings.”
Contractors were working in the school to undertake a complete rewiring of the premises but that has had to be paused due to the situation.
It added: “It is unlikely that children will be able to return to school in September as planned. Even if contractors were able to return to school during the holidays, this work could not now be completed before the start of term.
“Assuming that pupils cannot return to school in September, a short, one-to-two-week period of remote learning (as they have had to do previously during the pandemic) may be necessary before a longer-term solution is ready.
“There is planning going on now to look at options if the school is not able to safely reopen in September.
“We understand people’s concerns, but there are many questions that we simply cannot answer yet. We will keep you updated as the situation develops.”
