11.08
0 Comments | Birmingham Post (England), The, Nov 6, 2009
A High online personal trainer Court judge has criticised Wolverhampton City Council for giving the go-ahead for student flats near a potentially hazardous gas storage depot. The local authority was told that it should have told the Health and Safety Executive that it was proposing to permit the construction of Victoria Hall, in Lock Street, Wolverhampton, despite being advised that it was unsafe.
The four blocks of flats accommodate nearly 700 students within 100 metres of a depot storing liquid petroleum gas.
When the HSE became aware of the plans, which received permission in August 2008, it advised the flats should not be permitted because of the risk of a gas explosion. But as well as ruling against the council, the judge criticised the safety body for an “inexcusable” delay in seeking to take legal action to halt the pounds 40m development.
He said it was now too late to prevent construction of the fourth building or prevent occupation of the other three blocks that had already been built by developers Victoria Hall Ltd.
The judgment means planning authorities must now consult the HSE over proposed developments that increased the risk of a major accident or involve plans where explosives are nearby.
The development, which is in the city’s Canalside Quarter, was regarded by the council as an important contribution to the regeneration of the city centre.
Nick Edwards, Wolverhampton City Council’s chief regulatory services officer, said: “We are pleased that the planning permission granted for the Victoria Halls development remains unaltered.
“The council is giving very careful consideration to the judgement and will be acting on all of the issues raised in our role as a local planning authority.
“We accept that the council did not follow correct procedure and we are reviewing our internal procedures to ensure this does not happen again.” The judge said “the consequences if the risk materialised would be catastrophic.”
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