THE prolonged closure of parts of County Hall due to unsafe concrete 'liable to collapse' has been dragging on too long said Worcester's Labour leader.

Lynn Denham, joint leader of Worcester City Council, raised the issue at a full council meeting at County Hall, arguing that delays have reduced accessibility to buildings and services including for disabled people. 

Worcester News: DELAYS: Cllr Lynn Denham has argued the RAAC issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible DELAYS: Cllr Lynn Denham has argued the RAAC issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible (Image: Supplied)

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s.

It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install.

However, the Health and Safety Executive says it is 'less durable than traditional concrete and there have been problems as a result, which could have significant safety consequences, that is, its liable to collapse'.

Worcester News: CHALLENGED: Cllr Lynn Denham, Labour leader and joint leader of Worcester City Council, has raised the issue of RAAC at County Hall CHALLENGED: Cllr Lynn Denham, Labour leader and joint leader of Worcester City Council, has raised the issue of RAAC at County Hall (Image: Labour Party)

Cllr Denham said: "The closure of the front entrance and upper floors of County Hall has been going on for too long now.  There is still no clear plan for addressing the RAAC in the building. 

"How much longer will people have to walk past these barriers, in a wedding dress, to get to the Registry Office?  The entrance by the Lakeview Restaurant is not disabled accessible and people are struggling to find the way in.

"What records or documents are stuck behind the safety boarding and how is this affecting other council services?"  

Cllr Denham asked a question on the subject at a Worcestershire County Council meeting on November 9 last year.

She said: “It was a shock to discover that County Hall is no longer safe due to RAAC. The upper floors are blocked to access and people going to the Register Office to get married now have to enter via the Lakeview Restaurant entrance."

Cllr Denham proposed another motion on January 11, referring to there being 'no webcast of either Cabinet or scrutiny committees available to the public'.

Last week's meeting was the first one to be broadcast since September 14 last year. 

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A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said it takes safety seriously.

"A number of operational changes to ensure access and use of the building is safe have been put into place since the guidelines on RAAC changed last year.

"Whilst there are some current inconveniences associated with entry and exit to the building, it remains accessible to all with no impact to the delivery of council services. This includes the registry office where all services are fully operational. We are working closely with specialist RAAC experts to determine a workable, affordable and safe set of longer term solutions.

"Being open and transparent with our council and scrutiny meetings is also important to us and, whilst the Council Chamber cannot currently be accessed in County Hall, we have made arrangements to use other venues from where full council is both open to the public and broadcast."

It added that scrutiny and cabinet meetings meet the statutory requirements for access and transparency.