21 Dangerous buildings saved in storms

It’s been all hands on deck as Devon Building Control Partnership ensures the recent bad weather has minimal impact on public safety.

With high winds, storms, flooding and plummeting temperatures have an effect on roads and buildings, surveyors have been out and about around the clock dealing with dangerous structures and road risks.

In December alone, DBCP dealt with 21 weather-related dangerous structures. Seven of those call-outs were on Christmas Eve. The team has attended nine incidents in 2014 so far.

Whenever there is an emergency or an incident where a building becomes dangerous, DBCP attend to ensure the public are not put at risk. They are often among the first at the scene.

Steps are taken to make the area safe. This includes inspections, putting cordons in place, closing roads and contacting owners and contractors so repairs can be carried out quickly.

DBCP helped deal with two partial collapses affecting two separate buildings in Totnes High Street and the Partnership also secured a property in Orchard Gardens, Teignmouth, which had previously been severely damaged by fire but started losing slates from its roof in the recent gale-force winds.

The Partnership has been working closely with Devon County Council and all emergency services to make sure people are safe and the situations are dealt with quickly, safely and keep the impact to the wider communities to a minimum.

In most cases when a building becomes dangerous the owner will automatically take responsibility but if the building is empty or if no apparent action is taking place, concerned members of the public should call their local council. The building control team will assess the situation and take steps to ensure the public remain safe.

A building or structure can become dangerous at any time, but in periods of bad weather the risks increase, sometimes dramatically. Building owners are responsible for the safety of their property and should ensure they are properly maintained. Loose/cracked render, blocked gutters and loose slates or tiles will eventually lead to problems.

Cllr Terry Pearce, Building Control Partnership Chairman and West Devon Borough Councillor for Mary Tavy, said:

“Our team of surveyors has been working all hours during the severe weather dealing with unsafe buildings, highway collapses and coastal erosion where the public would be in danger.

“As we are only halfway through the winter, there may be further incidents to deal with at a time when the team is also catching up with routine work.

“Therefore, I would like to thank them for their continued efforts and effective response during the severe weather.”

Cllr Philip Vogel, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Housing and Planning, said: “The team have been called out at all times of the day and night to keep South Devon moving and prevent incidents from escalating. Surveyors are keeping a close eye on all properties and buildings currently at risk.”

The Devon Building Control Partnership was established in 2005 and provides the building control service on behalf of South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council and West Devon Borough Council. The team serves a population of 257,000 people covering 1,050 sq miles with 84 miles of coastline and moorland.

The partnership is administered from Teignbridge’s Forde House head officers in Newton Abbot.