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Gas safety scare at Leeds flats
HUNDREDS of lives could have been put at risk because of sub-standard gas fittings in a city-centre development.
Around 50 of the 326 flats at Barratt Homes's Brewery Wharf scheme have had their gas boilers switched off as a precaution after it was found the flues – which carry away fumes – had not been installed to industry standards.
The remaining homes, on the banks of the River Aire in the heart of Leeds, have all been fitted with carbon monoxide alarms in case the problem installations lead to the killer chemical being produced.
Some residents had to be temporarily re-housed.
Those left without boilers have had temporary electric showers fitted but still have to wash dishes and fill baths with water boiled in the kettle or on the hob.
Many more have had temporary inspection hatches carved out of their ceilings to make it easier for experts to check the flues.
A spokesman from Barratt Homes Yorkshire West said: "Since these issues were brought to our attention, our priority has been to mitigate any potential risk to health. All necessary apartments have now had carbon monoxide alarms installed.
"We have also found it necessary to switch off a number of boilers where there may be a potential risk."
In a letter to residents it asked for tenants' co-operation "in view of the potential danger to health."
A spokesman for Corgi – which keeps a register of competent gas installers for the Health and Safety Executive – said new safety guidelines had been published last year relating to flues in flats, to ensure they were positioned where they could be inspected and maintained.
He said this meant many other residents in flats could also be at risk.
The problems at Brewery Wharf were brought to light after stains were spotted on ceilings. Condensation stains can be evidence a flue is leaking.
That becomes a problem if the gas is not being burned correctly and is producing carbon monoxide, because it means the deadly gas could be released into people's homes.
Although the first problems were discovered in March, Barratt still does not know how many homes in the five buildings are affected. Inspections are ongoing.
Barratt had thought inspecting 10 per cent of homes would be enough but after so many installations were "identified as not safe" it might now have EVERY apartment checked by a Corgi-registered fitter.
The Health and Safety Executive said it was in contact with Barratt about the situation.
Paul Rayment's gas boiler was switched off around a month ago.
Dangerous
The 27-year-old said letters arrived in March saying everyone was being provided with carbon monoxide testers.
"Then they started sending letters saying 'we've got to inspect the boiler systems'."
He is one of few owner-occupiers at the development and said: "I'm angry that this could happen in the first place.
"When you buy a new property built by an established house builder the last thing you expect is dangerous pipes and having your home carved up."
The 60m development was only finished three years ago.
Mr Rayment's girlfriend Rebecca Fishwick said: "We came home one day from work to find they had switched the gas off. They shut it off for our own safety."
The 23-year-old added: "The apartment looks like a bomb has hit it. I am angry with the way the whole situation has been handled."
A spokeswoman for Barratt said the firm was committed to resolving the problem as quickly as possible and apologised for delays in carrying out remedial work, which it blamed on contractors who carried out the original installations.
Barratt has built various Leeds projects and is near completing Echo Central, 163 apartments on East Street.
Residents of 25 flats at the Ice Works on Cross York Street, Leeds, are still without gas after their supply was cut off two weeks ago because plastic pipes had been fitted instead of metal.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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