Council-built mezzanine floor at Hull Central Library is rejected ... by councillors
A NEW mezzanine floor built at Hull's Central Library may have to be torn down after councillors refused to back the plans.
Work has already been carried out to construct the new floor housing the music library.
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LISTED: Hull Central Library, where the new floor has been built.
But NPS Humber Ltd, which carried out the work on behalf of Hull City Council, failed to obtain listed building consent before carrying out the work.
At a planning committee meeting this week, councillors refused the retrospective application and insisted the new structure would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.
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Councillor John Fareham said: "The design of the mezzanine floor is attractive but the ceiling is too low and I nearly nutted myself several times. It's clearly a design fault.
"The whole point of the room is to provide a perception of a room which is tall and spacious, the mezzanine floor takes that away."
Councillor Tom McVeigh also raised concerns about the height of the room.
He said: "It's not a safe place for people to be. We can't take a chance on adults braining themselves on the ceiling.
"This is particularly annoying as it's a council development and we shouldn't be doing this to ourselves."
If the council decides to appeal, it will be in the bizarre position of either arguing against a development it has commissioned and funded or against the decision of its own councillors.
NPS Humber Ltd was criticised by councillors with many insisting the company should foot the bill rather than taxpayers.
Councillor Pete Allen said: "We are paying someone to build something people can't use.
"The cost should be met by the professionals we have employed.
"If we were to allow this to go ahead, we couldn't justify refusing any other retrospective applications."
Listed building consent requires permission from the Secretary of State.
Afterwards, the council said it was working on ways to resolve the situation.
A spokesman said: "Councils go through the same processes with planning as any other applicants who go before planning committee.
"Obviously, this is not a desirable outcome but we are working with all the agencies involved to resolve it and appeal if necessary."
Comments
by Redjin
Monday, December 10 2012, 2:26AM
“How much has this cost me then?
Rather than laying and tearing up flooring in a building little of the community use, why do they still refuse to fix the city's potholes on busy roads that thousands use daily?
Muppets!”
by red_karen
Sunday, December 09 2012, 10:55AM
“LordChez. it's halfway up the room which is why it can be torn down rather than up.”
by Man With a Van Hull - Local & Nationwide Removals & Storage
Sunday, December 09 2012, 10:52AM
“hull city council 0 v bosos 1
yet again another hull city farce”
by Demonica666
Sunday, December 09 2012, 10:35AM
“"This is particularly annoying as it's a council development and we shouldn't be doing this to ourselves."
Could this council be any more inept? They commission work and then refuse to sign it off as its specifications are incorrect? Surely if the council team were effectively and professionally overseeing the construction, they would have realised this from the plans drawn up in infancy? Dear God in heaven. How can Hull possibly advance and prosper when this bunch of petty bureaucratic nincompoops are at the helm?”
by LordChez
Sunday, December 09 2012, 9:56AM
“How can a floor be 'torn down'? Surely it would have to be torn up.”
by JohnEG
Saturday, December 08 2012, 1:04AM
“@AllusWright: Thanks for confirming my understanding of NPS Humber:
"JohnEG: Norfolk County Council own Norse Group Ltd which is the holding Company of NPS Humber. NPS Group has subsidiary companies which are joint ventures with local authorities in strategic areas to handle property management."
HDM article above:
NPS Humber Ltd was criticised by councillors with many insisting the company should foot the bill rather than taxpayers.
Councillor Pete Allen said: "We are paying someone to build something people can't use.
"The cost should be met by the professionals we have employed.
I'm baffled! Aren't these "professionals" employed/funded by either/both Norfolk County Council (Conservative) and Hull City Council (Labour).
"the company should foot the bill rather than taxpayers"? So the company HBS Humber (NCC / HCC) should foot the bill? Isn't that the taxpayer!
Certainly an eye opener our Labour council working with a Conservative council.”
by Goldieboy
Saturday, December 08 2012, 12:47AM
“To Snooper - Brilliant, I really did laugh out loud!”
by thesnooper
Friday, December 07 2012, 10:12PM
“Councillor John Fareham said: I nearly nutted myself several times
does this guy have 2 heads ?”
by glen1954
Friday, December 07 2012, 8:58PM
“The council should write comedy !”
by Goldieboy
Friday, December 07 2012, 7:31PM
“To BevRoadNorth - I could not agree more. I'm with you all the way, got my big hammer, ready when you are!”