Gloucester city centre car park closed after safety concerns

A multi-storey car park in Gloucester has been closed after concerns were raised over safety.

Longsmith Street Car Park, which is owned by Gloucester City Council, was closed to the public on Friday (September 22).

The move came a day after civic chiefs debated a motion without notice at North Warehouse which called for regular fire, asbestos, electrical and building control inspections of property owned by the authority.

The council has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure of the 300-space multi-storey and has suggested people instead use the car parks in Westgate Street and Hare Lane North.

This was proposed by Councillor Alastair Chambers (I, Matson, Robinswood and White City), who recently raised concerns about the potentially dangerous reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in Museum of Gloucester and the indoor market at Eastgate Shopping Centre.

“Following the recent media coverage around RAAC concrete I decided to undertake independent investigations on Gloucester City Councils properties and assets,” he said.

“I started my investigations at Longsmith car park. After initial external and visual inspections I noted large sections of reinforced concrete had fallen away and dropped off into the public footpath below.

“Broken electric cables swung loose in the wind. Metal security rails were loose where the fixings into the concrete had blown.

“Structural columns and beams were badly damaged with significant sections of reinforced concrete blown where in some cases 15 per cent or the column had deteriorated.

“Internal concrete slabs in many places were blown. A slight finger poke to the concrete was enough to dislodge large sections of concrete. Pieces of concrete would fall freely from only a slight touch.

“The reinforced steel rebar (which is a thick steel bar that is laid within concrete slabs to help with tension) was completely rusted and rotten.

“Again, a very slight touch of the finger would turn this steel bar to dust. Large sections of steel fell out and immediately disintegrated.

“Sections of steel rebar could easily be shaped between two fingers with no pressure. Areas of concrete slab were so hollow in places that their structural stability was non-existent.

“Large sections of concrete coping stones were falling off into public areas. I deemed the car park was a health and safety hazard on the defective and dangerous concrete slab.”

Cllr Chambers said he also had concerns over fire safety with emergency lights broken and inadequate fire doors.

He also said the wet riser, which is a supply system intended to distribute water to multiple levels or compartments of a building, had failed its inspection in years 2017 and 2018, and no further inspections or repairs were commissioned.

“After spotting these concerns, I immediately contacted the Health and Safety Executive as well as Gloucestershire Fire Brigade and a structural engineer.

“I showed the structural engineer on the same day as council the issues with the carpark and I was informed the car park was dangerous.”

Councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus (L, Moreland) said concerns over the state of Longsmith Street Car Park were also raised in July by group leader Terry Pullen (L, Moreland).

“Cllr Pullen raised a question about the disgraceful and unkempt condition of Longsmith Street car park, the council responded that maintenance had been kept to a minimum and it now appears that a similar regime has been taken with other council properties to the detriment of public and staff safety.

“The Labour group believe that the primary role of the city council is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors of Gloucester, this is something that the council under Conservative leadership seems to have forgotten and it is not good enough.”

Gloucester City Council says the Longsmith Street Car Park is closed until further notice and has apologised for the inconvenience.

“Alternative car parks include Westgate Street car park and Hare Lane North car park,” they said.

“Season ticket holders of Longsmith Street car park can use Westgate, Hare Lane North and Station Road car parks.

The council has been approached for further comment.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk