A school which was under construction in the Ishbilia residential district in Riyadh has been abandoned for two years and is now posing a hazard to the residents in the neighborhood.

The project was given the go ahead by the municipality and was originally planned to be completed in 14 months.

Work progressed rapidly in the first few weeks by Chinese laborers who were contracted for the construction but was then suddenly halted for unknown reasons. When Arab News tried to contact the municipality there was no response. However, they were assured that a complaint would be filed with the higher authorities in the municipality.

Meanwhile, residents in the neighborhood are concerned about the hazards the unfinished construction work poses to their children since the fence is broken and the site is easily accessible.

Mobina Ali, a mother of four, is worried about the site and suggests that the unfinished building be demolished since the project has been discontinued.

She said that last week, she and her children witnessed an accident that could have happened due to the high wind pressure of a dust storm.

“A part of the fence broke off and nearly hit a passing car because of the strong wind,” she said, adding that the abandoned building is extremely dangerous for everyone not just children. She stressed that she had to watch her children constantly while they were playing outdoors incase they ventured near the construction site.

Khan, who lives directly across from the school, thinks that the project would have been beneficial for the neighborhood.

He said: “If the project of the school was completed, it would have been convenient for families with children because of its close proximity to their homes.”

He pointed out that now the building was risky for the residents especially for children who are unaccompanied by adults.

Khan is among several residents of the Ishbilia district who is hoping that work will resume and the project completed.