Wolverhampton Civic £450,000 roof repairs leave council chamber flooded

The roof of the complex sprang a leak following the completion of £450,000 repairs to remove so-called 'danger' concrete that had been discovered in the building.

A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council assured taxpayers there would be no cost to the council, adding that the contractor would be held liable for the repair bill.

But Councillor Simon Bennett, leader of the opposition Conservative group on Wolverhampton Council, questioned why the work had been signed off given that the repairs were clearly not satisfactory.

The council chamber had been closed since August, following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the roof.

The Express & Star revealed in March how £450,000 had been set aside for repairs after the material, which can collapse when exposed to moisture, had been found in the roof of the 46-year-old building. Discovery of the material has led to the closure of public buildings across the country.

Work commenced on the repairs during the summer, and were recently signed off as complete. But heavy rainfall during this month's storms led to water pouring through the roof, leaving the council chamber and an adjacent committee room flooded. 

The council spokesman said the cost of the flood damage was still being assessed by the council's project team.

"There will be no cost to the council, the contractor will be charged all the costs incurred as a result of the flood damage," he said.

"The council chamber and committee room will be back in action from January 2, 2025, ahead of any council meetings in the New Year.

"In principle we were happy with the Raac removal works, and the contractor will rectify the current issue."

But Councillor Bennett said the closure of the chamber and the neighbouring committee room meant the council would not be able to broadcast committee and scrutiny meetings on its website.

"The council had signed off this work as complete, and accepted that everything was good to go," he said.

"It raises questions about the process, was everything checked when the work was confirmed to be in a fit state?"

Raac, sometimes known as ‘aero concrete’ due to its bubbled texture, became popular in the 1950s as a cost-effective building material, but stopped being used in the 1990s. It is a safety risk because it can fail suddenly and collapse with little or no warning.

It is susceptible to structural failure when exposed to moisture, as the bubbles can allow water to enter the material.

Last year the Government ordered 100 schools, nurseries and colleges to close classrooms amid concerns the material was prone to collapse.

The Civic Centre was completed in 1978, replacing the old town hall on the opposite side of North Street.

It was officially opened by Prime Minister Jim Callaghan in February 1979. It received a Civic Trust Award the same year.