Council’s offices are a 'death trap'

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Council's offices are a 'death trap'

Dorset Echo - England,UK

By Ben Glass

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1350275.0.councils_offices_ar

e_a_death_trap.php

YEARS of neglect mean Portland Town Councils offices are becoming a

death trap, the island's town clerk has warned.

Staff at the Fortuneswell building say a faulty boiler means the

building is suffering from severe damp - aggravating workers' asthma.

Town clerk Ian Looker, in a note to councillors, said he and other

staff are risking 'life and limb' every time they go to work.

He says: " I am concerned about mould growing in several rooms

because of the general damp condition and disrepair of the building.

" This is a health hazard for people who suffer from asthma. "

Mr Looker said that he had suffered frustrating problems with the

office boiler.

He said he arrived at work one Monday morning to discover the boiler

wasn't working and despite a call to Weymouth and Portland Borough

Council's property repairs helpdesk nothing was done.

Two days later he called again, but there was still no sign of the

plumber.

He said: " The following Monday the central heating problem had still

not been dealt with and the temperature in our office was eight

degrees Celsius.

" We could hear water running continuously in the tank and soon after

also heard water splashing in the boiler room.

" Phone calls that morning and the following morning resulted in

plumbers coming later on Tuesday.

" When they eventually gained access they found the boiler room floor

about three feet deep in water and they told me the boiler was most

probably defunct.

" One other issue was that in opening the boiler room door one of its

hinges broke. "

Mr Looker added that mould was also starting to damage painting

prints on the town council wall.

Borough council chief executive Tom Grainger said: " Obviously health

and safety issues must be addressed. But I think the main solution

to these problems is to push ahead with redeveloping the building. "

CommentPosted by: Mike, Portland on 10:34am today

Seems a good time to close it & scrap the town council as they are

about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Quote | Report this postPosted by: turtle, sea front shelter on

11:06am today

Why do the council fail to maintain public properties, it only

results in more expense. Could be another opportunity for affordable

housing though.