Fire hazard shed in Gilberdyke removed by the Council

This week East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) contractors have removed an asbestos nissen hut and its contents of highly inflammable polystyrene from a site adjacent to Clayton’s Fold in Gilberdyke. This after the hut was declared dangerous under the Building Act.

Humberside Fire and Rescue had also identified the hut as a very serious risk to life from fire. The shed had become attractive for young people in which to hang out, although this was not necessarily a major problem, the concern was the fact that the floor area was covered with highly inflammable polystyrene chunks to a depth of over two feet.

This was brought to my attention a number of months ago by a Gilberdyke resident who also raised it with the Goole and Howdenshire Local Action Team (LAT) as it was a long standing issue and complex to solve as the responsibility for the site was difficult to establish. Working together with the ERYC Planning department and Carl Ducker of Building Control, a solution for moving forward was able to be found.

The owner was eventually traced and contacted by ERYC Building Control and made aware that the building was being declared dangerous, and that he was required to carry out work to remove the danger as soon as practically possible. Failure to do so would result in the work being undertaken by Council contractors and the Council’s expenses recovered from the owner or via a charge recovered upon sale of the land.

The owner chose the second option and the Council removed the offending hut and contents within two days.