Lyme Regis: Pavilion walls struck by damp (From Thisisdorset)

Lyme Regis: Pavilion walls struck by damp

10:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Latest By James Tourgout

DAMP readings at the pavilion in Anning Road in Lyme Regis are nearly off the chart.

Instead of readings of around eight to 10 per cent the walls were registering between 70 and 90 per cent said the deputy town clerk Simon Ratcliff.

He said investigations revealed the damp proof course had been breached by the concrete path on the outside of the building.

He said it would take six months for the walls to dry out and suggested that new readings should be taken now the walls had been exposed.

But town councillors on the operational management sub committee said they wanted the building in use for Jubilee celebrations and could see no sense in waiting to take more readings.

Coun Terry O’Grady said: “My concern is at the level of damp.

“The walls are absolutely saturated and I am concerned about the timings and costings.

“The playing fields are going to be used during the Jubilee and what we don’t want is that building not being able to be used.

“I would not want to see that building out of use for the Jubilee.”

Coun Michaela Ellis was worried about cost implications and finding people to do the job but town clerk Mike Lewis said money was available for maintenance of the building.

Committee chairman Coun Chris Clipson suggested they should get on with remedial work immediately.

He said: “As a matter of great urgency seeing as it is Jubilee year we should cut back the plaster, cut back the footpath and we allow the walls to dry out as fast as possible. Then we consider what we are going to do to get it back together as fast as possible.

“If we do nothing it is going to stay wet for the next six months.

“We must proceed – we can’t wait while we take a few odd readings here and there.”

Councillors agreed with him.