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Chalcots estate |
Safety experts check tower blocks
‘Secrecy’ under attack after material falls from 22-storey buildings during £66m work
HEALTH and safety inspectors have been called in to monitor work on Camden’s flagship £66million PfI housing project amid complaints about material falling from high-rise tower blocks.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed on Tuesday that inspectors had raised “concerns” over work at Chalcots estate, in Swiss Cottage, where five of Camden’s highest and most neglected housing blocks are undergoing refurbishment in a four-year project.
HSE involvement has led to claims that authorities have not revealed the full extent of safety concerns on the estate during the work.
The HSE visit was one of three recent inspections by various bodies of the 160-flat Bray block after residents' complaints about work carried out by Partners for Improvement in Camden (PFIC), the public-private consortium which finally won the refurbishment deal after a torrid six-year negotiation.
An HSE spokesman said: “A visit was carried out last month in regard to falling items [from external works on the 22-storey buildings] and electrical issues. The principal contractor has been informed and agreed to take appropriate action.”
The main contractor, Rydon Construction, had “changed the way they worked and put different systems in place” and “satisfied” the HSE, the spokesman said.
“Inspectors will continue to liaise with the contractors,” he added. But some residents have complained that Camden Council, the HSE and contractors have all declined to release the findings of inspections carried out.
Nigel Rumble, vice-chairman of Bray tenants’ and residents’ association, said the lack of openness was fuelling fears of fire and electrical risks.
He added: “I for one have had three inspections in my flat. There most certainly were quite significant problems, and there has been an acknowledgement by the contractors that things were not as they should have been.
“Camden are behaving extremely cavalierly. Why should the local authority be afraid to allow a resident access to the full reports, which could well leave them feeling less rather than more alarmed?”
This week, the council refused to release a report by its own sub-contracted inspector, NIFES. The New Journal asked for the report three weeks ago and was told it would not be available until August 11, but a press official said yesterday (Wednesday) that it could still not be released in full. After repeated conversations with the New Journal, she called back to say that a summary would be available shortly.
She added: “The work at Chalcots estate was undertaken by competent personnel under the supervision of EDF and the site management of Rydon Construction. Camden Council has a number of quality control procedures in place to ensure work is carried out in accordance with the specification and takes any issues relating to workmanship seriously.
“Any issues revealed as a result of these quality control procedures would, and have been, acted on by our contractor at the earliest opportunity.”
The work carried out by the council and PFIC, a joint venture between the Bank of Scotland and United House with Rydon as main contractor, is due to end in 2010, when Rydon will begin a lengthy PfI maintenance contract.
A council press official said yesterday (Wednesday): “We have received a recent electrical inspection report. The findings are currently being reviewed by the council. The report includes details of individual residents’ homes and it would not be appropriate to put this information into the public domain.” |
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Your comments:
If traders have been warned about the consequences and still ignored them in this way they should be named and shamed. It's disgraceful.
Georgina Parry
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