Council seek costs from surveyors over asbestos report for nightclub

Last Updated on November 22, 2016 by

Council seek costs from surveyors over asbestos report for nightclub

Swansea Council are said to be seeking costs from the surveyors who carried out the original asbestos survey at the former Oceana nightclub on Kingsway.

The asbestos survey was done before demolition works were due to start on site by a company called Santia.

Santia were at the site for a total of six weeks, but only managed to identify 10% of the locations where asbestos was later to be found.

As a result of this, costs rose significantly from the original estimates and now stand at over £4 million.

In addition, Swansea Council are saying that Santia’s asbestos report didn’t give any indication at all that there may be more asbestos present in the building.

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said, “The original scope of works were to be covered by the Welsh Government via their Vibrant and Viable Places Swansea City Centre Regeneration Programme, but the failure of the original asbestos survey to identify the amount of asbestos in the building means the project costs have greatly increased.”

“These additional costs are being met by the council through borrowing in the very short term, but the schemes planned for Kingsway will more than pay for themselves in the longer term.”

“As a council, we have followed all due diligence throughout this project, so we’re looking to recover a proportion of the additional Oceana costs from Santia. We’re also in the process of securing further investment from the Welsh Government and via the City Deal, which we hope to sign in coming months.”

“Subject to funding, the Oceana building will be replaced with a new office development on site that will form part of an employment district we’re planning for Kingsway. This overall scheme won’t just generate income to protect council services for residents across Swansea – it will also create high-quality office accommodation for new businesses to accompany. This will help keep jobs in Swansea and create many more.”

All asbestos has since been removed

The council have stated that all asbestos has now been removed from the former nightclub building, and all asbestos containing materials have been safely recycled where possible.

Works to remove the outside canopy are planned to take place next Sunday 27th November 2016.

While the works to the canopy are carried out, the pavement outside the building will be temporarily closed off to the public.   Pedestrians will be provided with a temporary alternative route.

Also on the day of works, the cycle lane will be closed and bus lane narrowed.

Once the canopy is removed, scaffolding will be erected.

The demolition works will begin in the new year and should be complete by the end of March 2017.

Councillor Rob Stewart said, “The canopy outside the former Oceana building will be familiar to many thousands of people in Swansea and south Wales as a whole, having once been an iconic feature outside a series of nightclubs there over the years.”

“Its removal is needed for scaffolding to go up around the building in readiness for external demolition starting in January, with the work taking place on a Sunday to minimise disruption.”

 

Source of article:-  www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/oceana-asbestos-surveyors-facing-action-from-swansea-council-to-recover-costs-after-4-1m-bill/story-29915825-detail/story.html#R1syVRObRcvxoAuL.99

 

Duty holders and employers have a legal responsibility to manage asbestos in their building so as not to put employees at risk. Contact our Armco office for asbestos management and refurbishment/ demolition surveys on 0161 763 3727 or by visiting https://www.armco.org.uk/

Alternatively, to book onto one of our asbestos training courses, please call 0161 761 4424 or visit https://www.armcoasbestostraining.co.uk/ 

 

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Published Nov 22, 2016

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