THE fate of council headquarters should not be decided behind closed doors whether the deserted building is sold to the hospital or knocked down for houses, says a concerned councillor.
Questions remain about the future of County Hall in Worcester which has been closed to the public and staff since since legionella bacteria was found in the water over two months ago.
The discovery of the bacterium came after parts of the building became inaccessible because of safety concerns over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as ‘RAAC’.
Calls have already been made by Green councillors for County Hall’s empty car parks to be opened up to patients from nearby Worcestershire Royal Hospital, so far ruled out by Worcestershire County Council.
The building, the former headquarters of the county council, has been closed since June 21.
Cllr Lynn Denham, a Labour county councillor for Rainbow Hill, called the building a ‘white elephant’ and said she was appalled the risks posed by the building were ignored for so long.
Meanwhile, Cllr Matthew Jenkins, a Green Party county councillor for St Stephen, has called for the process of deciding its future to be made as public so suggestions about its future can be properly debated and explored.
Cllr Jenkins said: “I think the key thing is that the leadership is transparent about the future of the building in terms of its possible use. If we plan to keep the building and millions on it, how do we ensure we make the best use of it? It can’t just be a county council building.
“For a start, it is far too big. Or, do we sell it, maybe to the hospital? Or, for housing? We need these options to be considered and analysed, not left behind closed doors and left to the Cabinet to decide.”
Cllr Jenkins, who described the building as ‘under utilised anyway’, said he wanted to see a process as ‘open and transparent as possible’ and be subject to ‘proper scrutiny and public engagement’.
Cllr Lynn Denham said: “The state of County Hall is symbolic of 14 years of Conservative government austerity, and years of county austerity before that.
“It represents a failure to invest in public infrastructure and the services that Worcestershire residents expect to receive.
“I am appalled that the leadership at the county council ignored the building risks for too long and ignored the concerns of staff and the public. This once beautiful building is now a white elephant which requires major investment to be fit for use.”
No hint has been given so far about when workers will be able to move back. The popular Lakeview Cafe on the site has also been closed as a result.
Workers have struggled to access and maintain the water system because of ongoing issues with the faulty concrete which is liable to collapse, forcing the closure of the second floor.
Before the sudden closure, signs even warned people inside County Hall to only flush the toilet with the lid down.
Investigation work costing up to £1.85 million is set to take place at County Hall.