PLANS to carry out repair works to a swimming pool roof at a 500-year-old school have been lodged.

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (QEGS) in, West Park Road, Blackburn has asked for permission to conduct the ‘roof recovering works’ to its swimming pool building.

Planning documents submitted to Blackburn with Darwen council said that existing tiled mansard roof slopes are in a ‘very poor state’ and present a ‘significant health and safety hazard’ with damaged and falling tiles, as well as ongoing maintenance issues.

“In addition, the shallow pitch metal sheeted roof finishes to the upper slopes are also severely deteriorated, and despite having previously been treated/over coated with a liquid plastics/coating system is now suffering from ongoing leaks/water ingress,” said the documents.

The proposals will see the existing cement/asbestos tiled mansard detail stripped off, and both the upper existing metal sheeted roof coverings and mansard roof slopes, over-cladded with a new Decra Stratos lightweight roof system.

The six-lane indoor, heated pool is used by pupils at the school and by clubs and groups including Splash Swim Academy.

In planning documents on behalf of the school, Blackburn-based agent Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors, said: “The application seeks Conservation Area Consent for the re-covering of existing roof finishes to the swimming pool forming part of Queen Elizabeth’s school campus.

“The proposed works will actually provide an improvement/consistency of roof finishes to the swimming pool building and elevations fronting West Park Road.

“The proposals are deemed to be essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the property/building, removing current health/safety hazards, and reducing ongoing maintenance issues, as well as significant benefits from increased thermal performance. “

QEGS, founded in 1509, charged fees of more than £10,000 a year before it became a free school in September 2014.

It comes after major work is currently being carried out at the school as part of a £1m maintenance project, which will see work to fix the roof and fire alarms at the historic school.