A CALL for the Government to provide more air filters to schools sparked debate in a council meeting.

Councillors argued over whether to call for more air filtration devices in schools, or to open windows for ventilation.

Some members said opening windows would leave children shivering in their coats.

Councillor Maura McEown exhorted: "Go outside, man. It's Durham in January.

"I represent a primary school that's in such a windy place, it was the first primary school in the country to get a wind turbine.

"And you want them to open the windows and that's how our children are going to learn in the cold?"

Cllr Olwyn Gunn began the debate with a motion to the Durham County Council meeting.

The Labour member called on the council to assert "the Government must do more to prevent widespread disruption in County Durham schools and colleges".

She argued "children, parents, support staff, teachers and school leaders must be equipped with everything they need to protect face-to-face education".

Her motion had urged the council to write to Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi requesting air filtration devices for all school and college classrooms.

She told the meeting: "It's a motion asking the Secretary of State for Education to keep our children and school staff safe and to keep schools open.

"I know that only 7,000 air filters have been made available for what's been estimated as 300,000 classrooms in England.

"In our case... that would likely be just air filters for six classrooms in 266 schools.

"You're not going to get one, and some of our classrooms in old buildings... are very poorly ventilated.

"I confess that I'm not a scientist, but there is growing evidence that air filters can, and they do, minimise the risk of infection spread.

"And I'm sure we would all agree that uncontaminated air should be a priority in our classrooms.

"I'm sure we would all agree that children need to be at school. There has to be support to do it.

"It's not an overstatement that getting air quality and ventilation right in our schools could be the key to improving the future health and wellbeing of our children."

Cllr Veronica Andrews agreed, saying air filters would reduce risks and transmission, and "future-proof schools".

Cllr Richard Bell, Conservative group leader and deputy council leader, said he understood "around four out of five" air filter allocations had been accepted nationally.

"However it should be noted that they are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation.

"In other words, the primary mechanism for dealing with air quality where you can is to open windows, not install them (air filters) in every classroom.

"Clearly it never was the plan to fit air filtration devices in every classroom in England and it would not be sensible to do so.

"The sensible approach is to fit air filtration devices to windowless classrooms, especially where vulnerable children are taught."

He proposed an amended motion including priority vaccinations for teachers: "We believe that's a very important thing that the government can and should be doing."

Cllr Mark Wilkes supported this amendment, saying it offered more.

Cllr Angela Stirling, a teacher of modern foreign languages, also supported it, saying: "I think this is a very sensible idea and would very much be welcomed by everyone who works in schools."

Cllr Paul Sexton said: "The Government has written to schools and headteachers and said if you have ventilation issues there are filtration systems and purifiers available.

"It's down to the schools to go on and register their interest.

"80% of people who have applied have had that fulfilled.

"We've got to be practical about this."

Other councillors opposed Cllr Bell's amendment and supported Cllr Gunn's original motion.

Ex-teacher Cllr Samantha Townsend said children had been "sitting in their coats and shivering".

She said: "Opening a window is not a quick fix.

"I would suggest when the Government has written off over £4bn in debts that have accrued over Covid loan fraud, then they can pay for air filtration in our schools to keep our teachers and young people safe."

Cllr McEown added: "The science shows that air filtration systems have a real impact, that they are the way forward. So why, why don't we ask for the best for our children and our families and for our schools?"

Cllr Simon Wilson said opening windows risked further illness, rejecting Cllr Bell's amendment as a "disgrace".

He said: "It's just bad taste, it's awful, the fact that you're asking kids to sit and open a window in the freezing cold."

Cllr Ian McLean said if Eton School had air purifiers for each classroom, "why can't my kids?"

Cllr Shirley Quinn said a small school where she was a governor was told to stay open with about a quarter of its children and six staff members absent.

She said: "I find it really alarming that we're allowing this to happen.

"And I understand we need the children at school. But we're putting those key workers, of which I am one, at risk every single day.

"And there are still people dying of Covid. We need to make every measure that we possibly can to ensure that these people are supported, helped and given the best possibility in life. These are the children of our future."

Cllr Gunn said: "This amendment is absolutely pathetic.

"That's like slapping an Elastoplast on a major wound.

"It's pathetic in the way in which it dilutes a very serious issue.

"It seriously dismisses protecting our children and our staff."

Her original motion prevailed with a 78-8 vote, with 16 absentations, after councillors voted 52-48 against Cllr Bell's amendment.

The debate also included discussion of the need for mask-wearing guidance, past investment in schools, previous council spending, Test and Trace, Gordon Brown and the Royal Yacht.

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