Safety of users of Multi Storey Car Park

The request was successful.

Dear Broxtowe Borough Council,

Two of your most senior Councillors, Cllr Steve Barber (Chair, Development Control) and Cllr David Watts (Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development) have written the following comments on a local 'Blog' in recent days. Their full comments can be seen at

http://beestonia.wordpress.com/2013/01/0...

I quote here the sections relevant to my request:

David Watts says:
January 4, 2013 at 8:12 pm
The car park was demolished by NET to make way for the Tram, but it was in a very poor state and would have needed serious remedial work if it had stayed. You may remember that the top floor was shut for ages because of the state of the concrete...............
David
Steve Barber says:
January 4, 2013 at 9:42 pm
To clarify a couple of points, although I think David Watts has stated the facts admirably.
NET need 2/9 ths of the multi-storey car park plus Blockbusters, fags and booze, the shops up to Yorkshire Bank and Styring Street for the transport intechange. They originally proposed to leave the rest of the car park but were persuaded that it would be just as easy to knock it down as shoring up an unstable structure would cost a lot. We at the Council were not keen to spend the £4m+ needed to bring it up to safety standards and when we watched it come down even the engineers were shocked as to its instability, frankly it should have shut years ago. NET have taken temporary posession of the car park site and fire station but it will be returned to the Council once works are complete. This is a valuable plot which could make a nice phase 2 of an ambitious development with a household name store. We need a developer with foresight.

The above quotes appear to show that the Council knowingly kept open a Multi Storey Car Park that they knew to be dangerous for a number of years, and that 'should have been shut years ago'.

The story I have heard is very different: I was under the impression from sources I have every reason to believe, that the Car Park was not in poor condition, but was merely underutilised; the top floors were therefore shut to save on National Non-Domestic rates; and that it was perfectly feasible to shut 2/9th of the Car Park for the tram alignment, carry out remedial work and continue to use the Car Park to service Beeston Shops, and that this had been the favoured outcome for at least one responsible officer of the Council.

I find it difficult to believe the Chief Executive/Car Parking manager/Estates Officer knowingly kept open an unsafe Car Park they were aware was unsafe, and if this was the case we need to be told whose decision this was, and what risk the public were knowingly put to.

Please supply to me under the Freedom of Information Act all Risk assessments and reports Broxtowe Borough Council have in their possession which refer to the condition (structural/cosmetic/financial) of the Car Park in the period 2002 to the present day; all Council papers and resolutions which refer to the decision making process for retaining/demolishing the structure, and all information regarding attempts to sell the car park to Henry Boot Developments or other parties in the period 1995 to the present day.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours faithfully,

Simon Barton

Broxtowe Borough Council

Thank you for contacting Broxtowe Borough Council. This is an automated reply to let you know that your email has been received. If any action is necessary it will be passed to the relevant officer who will respond to you directly.

Visit our Website www.broxtowe.gov.uk to make payments, download forms and to find information about all our services.

You can telephone us on 0115 9177777. Our switchboard is open for calls Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and 8.30am till 4.30 on Fridays. The main Council Offices are also open for visitors between these times.

You can write to us at - Broxtowe Borough Council, Council Offices, Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1AB.

Broxtowe Borough Council

show quoted sections

foi, Broxtowe Borough Council

Dear Simon

Thank you for your request. You will receive a reply as soon as possible and in any event by 4 February 2013 at the latest. Please contact me if I can be of any help in the meantime.

Regards

Sue
______________________________________

Sue Rodden
Head of Administrative Services

Broxtowe Borough Council
Council Offices
Foster Avenue
Beeston
Nottingham
NG9 1AB

show quoted sections

Dear Sue,

Thank you for your response which I received yesterday.

'whatdotheyknow' have sent me a note reminding me that your response was due, which makes me think you may have replied to me personally rather than publicly through the site. May I request that you provide the information I have received to that site?

I'm not sure what the procedure looks like from your end, but I suspect you have inadvertently replied to an email account of mine, rather that to that of the campaigning website.

I hope it doesn't put you to too much trouble, and may see you soon at EIG.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Barton

Broxtowe Borough Council

Thank you for contacting Broxtowe Borough Council. This is an automated reply to let you know that your email has been received. If any action is necessary it will be passed to the relevant officer who will respond to you directly.

Visit our Website www.broxtowe.gov.uk to make payments, download forms and to find information about all our services.

You can telephone us on 0115 9177777. Our switchboard is open for calls Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and 8.30am till 4.30 on Fridays. The main Council Offices are also open for visitors between these times.

You can write to us at - Broxtowe Borough Council, Council Offices, Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1AB.

Broxtowe Borough Council

show quoted sections

foi, Broxtowe Borough Council

4 Attachments

Dear Simon
Copy of the information sent in response to your request. My apologies for the delay in posting it on this site.
Unfortunately I'm not going to be at the EIG as I'm on leave. It's a pity as I think it could be an interesting meeting.
Please contact me if I can be of any further help.
Regards
Sue

show quoted sections

Dear Sue,

Thanks for posting the information on whatdotheyknow.com

I believe my request to now be complete, so thanks once again for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Barton

Broxtowe Borough Council

Thank you for contacting Broxtowe Borough Council. This is an automated reply to let you know that your email has been received. If any action is necessary it will be passed to the relevant officer who will respond to you directly.

Visit our Website www.broxtowe.gov.uk to make payments, download forms and to find information about all our services.

You can telephone us on 0115 9177777. Our switchboard is open for calls Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and 8.30am till 4.30 on Fridays. The main Council Offices are also open for visitors between these times.

You can write to us at - Broxtowe Borough Council, Council Offices, Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1AB.

Broxtowe Borough Council

show quoted sections