COLLAPSE OF ROOFS Suspect buildings a ‘national disaster’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33730, 31 December 1974, Page 12

COLLAPSE OF ROOFS Suspect buildings a ‘national disaster’

(From CHARLES COOPER, London ccnespcndent of "The Press > LONDON. A building fault that has become little short of a national ister was revealed when the roof of an empty assembly hall Camden Girls’ School. London, crashed in a cloud of dus and broken concrete in June last year.

Horrified architects and engineers were trying to fathom why the hall's beams had given way when their concern was underlined by the week-end collapse a fewmonths later of the roof over the Stepney Red Coat School swimming pool.

Since then, hundreds of other buildings — schools, hospitals, and office blocks — constructed on the same principle have come under scrutiny. The flaw in the construction has been pinpointed as a “high alumina” quick-drying cement developed in the 19505. Charges of cover-up and secrecy are being flung at Government departments, but it is at least known that there are 1153 schools on a top-priority “danger list.” The total number of all buildings suspect has not been disclosed, but guesses put the figure at between 30,000 and 50,000. Of the schools under suspicion. about 400 have been! inspected and reopened after]

'September, replacement of the decaying concrete beams would cost $250,000 — almost as much as a new [school. [ The awesome proportions of this disaster which has crept up on economically faltering Britain are outlined in ;a report prepared by localI authority heads for presentation to the Government in the [New Year. Their estimate is the equivalent of sl7Bom to “stop j 50,000 buildings from falling down." A Municipal Authorities Association spokesman says: |“We regard this as a national [disaster. We will ask the Government for the monev for repairs.” When this staggering bill [is tabled in Westminster, the [affair of the high alumina [cement is likely to become a nation-wide uproar rather than the private nightmare I of the relative few who are 'in possession of all the facts.

temporary or permanent re-' pairs. More than 400 are still waiting to be examined: and 260 have been partly or completely closed. As investigations on a[ national scale continue, it is estimated that the school danger list will steadily increase towards 2000. In Leeds, one school may have to be demolished and' rebuilt. Its pupils attend a neighbouring school from 1.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. while ( the school’s own pupils have, classes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. i One-third of the pupils of an-! other Leeds school are being Sent to a derelict school six] miles away. In all. 12 Leeds': schools are closed, at least! one of which may be abandoned. At Richmond, near London.; education authorities are de-!, manding the demolition and!, rebuilding of an infant school;: only 10 years old; and at! Vineyard school, also in i Richmond, closed since last i