Liverpool City Council has scheduled emergency work on a city centre building after a piece of its structure fell onto a public pavement. The four-storey building, located at the junction of Bold Street and Berry Street, was declared unsafe following the incident on Wednesday, September 17.
The work, set to take place on Monday, September 22, will involve removing or securing loose rendering to ensure public safety. A section of the pavement remains closed until the repairs are completed.
Key Takeaways
- Emergency repairs are planned for a building at the corner of Bold Street and Berry Street.
- The action was prompted by a one-metre piece of rendering falling onto the pavement below.
- A building surveyor declared the structure unsafe, leading to immediate safety measures.
- Liverpool City Council's Building Control team is managing the work under the Building Act 1984.
- The pavement beneath the affected area is closed to pedestrians until the building is made safe.
Details of the Structural Failure
Emergency services were called to the prominent city centre location at approximately 10:45 am on Wednesday, September 17. Both Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service responded to reports concerning the building's structural integrity.
Upon arrival, crews discovered that a piece of rendering, measuring around one metre in length, had detached from the upper levels of the four-storey building and fallen onto the pavement. The ground floor of the property is occupied by the restaurant Mee Japanese & Thai Street Food.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews identified signs of "loose rendering" on the building's facade. The immediate priority was to secure the area and prevent any potential harm to the public.
Immediate Safety Response and Assessment
Following the initial response, authorities quickly established a cordon to close off the affected pavement. Merseyside Police assisted with traffic management in the busy area, although road closures were not deemed necessary at the time.
Ensuring Public Safety
Incidents involving falling debris in urban centres trigger a multi-agency response. The primary goal is to secure the scene, assess the structural risk with qualified experts, and implement measures to protect the public from further danger while planning for necessary repairs.
Fire crews communicated with the manager of the ground-floor restaurant and made contact with the building's landlord to inform them of the situation. A structural engineer was requested to conduct a professional assessment of the building's condition.
A building surveyor later attended the scene and, after consulting with the police, officially deemed the building unsafe. This declaration prompted the need for urgent remedial action to address the structural risk.
Council to Undertake Emergency Works
In response to the surveyor's findings, Liverpool City Council has taken control of the situation to ensure the building is made safe. An official spokesperson for the council confirmed the next steps in a statement.
“The danger present on the building is being dealt with by Liverpool City Council’s Building Control team under S.78 of the Building Act 1984,” the spokesperson stated.
This section of the Act gives local authorities the power to take immediate action when a building or structure is deemed to be in a dangerous condition, allowing them to carry out necessary work to protect the public.
Building Act 1984, Section 78
This legislation empowers local councils to serve a notice on a building's owner to carry out repairs on a dangerous structure. If the danger is imminent, the council can take direct action to remove the threat and recover the costs from the owner later.
Repair Plan and Pavement Closure
The council has outlined a clear plan for the required repairs. Initially, a temporary cage was erected around the ground floor to keep pedestrians away from the immediate vicinity. This has since been reinforced with a more substantial blue fence and traffic cones to fully close the pavement.
The spokesperson provided further details on the planned intervention: “We have closed off the pavement immediately beneath the affected part of the building, whilst our emergency works contractor sources suitable equipment to remove or make safe the remaining loose parts that remain.”
The crucial work is scheduled to proceed promptly. “This emergency work is due to take place on Monday, September 22, and the pavement will then be opened for use again,” the council confirmed.
Impact on a Busy City Intersection
The building is situated at one of Liverpool's busiest and most recognizable intersections, where the bustling retail and hospitality corridor of Bold Street meets the major thoroughfare of Berry Street. This area experiences high footfall throughout the day and evening.
The closure of the pavement, while essential for safety, causes disruption for pedestrians navigating this popular part of the city centre. The council's swift action aims to minimize this disruption by completing the emergency repairs as quickly as possible.
The restaurant operating on the ground floor was directly impacted by the incident and the subsequent safety cordon. The planned works on Monday are the first step toward restoring normal operations and public access to this corner of the city.