Lyme Regis: Concerns raised over condition of Marine Parade Shelters (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Concerns raised over condition of Marine Parade Shelters

10:04am Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Lyme Regis By James Tourgout

COUNCILLORS have raised concerns about problems with the £1.32million Marine Parade Shel-ters in Lyme Regis less than a year after they were opened.

They highlighted issues about the rendering on the front of the flagship complex as well as water leaks, some floors lifting and shrinking paving in some areas.

Members of the town council’s operational management committee discussed progress and discussed holding back the £30,000 retention fee until all works were finished.

The concerns come after the revamped shelters – including shops, community room, the promenade and a terrace – were opened amid much fanfare last July.

Councillors Mark Gage, Chris Clipson and Terry O’Grady carried out their own informal check of the shelters before drawing up a list of potential concerns and areas for clarification.

Coun Mark Gage said that there were sections of render, including on the front of the building, among the concerns.

“A number of areas did seem to be coming away.

“At this early point that is a worry.”

Coun O’Grady added that repairs already undertaken on the frontage seemed to have gone again and that it needed to be fixed as a priority.

Coun Gage said that they wanted issues raised placed on the snagging list to be resolved.

Coun George Symonds said that water had been coming in since day one and that it was a concern.

Coun Rikey Austin added that there needed to be a period to see if the work was okay and problems had stopped after the project was finally completed.

Committee chairman Chris Clipson told members that the timescale of the guarantee period would be reported back to the committee.

Town clerk Mike Lewis said that work would be carried out but not in the peak summer season and that the council had held a £30,000 retention amount which would not be paid until all of the snagging list was resolved.

Issues on an outstanding items list from the council’s architects and project manager Highway Field Associated included water leaks in shops, linoleum floors lifting, damp staining, gaps in skirting, rendering failure, shrinking to paving and steps.

An email to the council from Heighway Field provided to the councillors at the committee said that some matters were already in hand and others would be taken into account when an inspection is carried out.

Senior associate Tim Williamson also wrote in the email that it was not unusual for a client to prepare such a list as compiled by councillors Gage, O’Grady and Clipson and he thanked them for their input.

He also said that it has become an unusually and undesirably protracted process of resolving outstanding issues.

Mr Williamson added that he assured the council that all the issues raised will be properly considered in due course.

Mr Williamson said that water leaks in a National Trust shop had been narrowed down to a door screen and that many of the other current items related to finishing trades should flow on quickly.

He added Heighway Field has strongly emphasised to contractors and third parties that the facilities will be increasingly used more regularly with the onset of the summer season.

He added that they have stressed that it was imperative that as many issues affecting detrimentally the overall appearance of the building were rectified without further delay.

Coun Gage said after the meeting that he, Coun O’Grady and Coun Clipson were not qualified builders but had taken a walk round to highlight any potential issues or areas of concern.

He added that the council would be working with Highway Field to resolve issues or have them added to the snagging list.

Mr Williamson said after the meeting that he did not want to make any comment.