The completion and opening of a play area for children in a central Brighton tower block continues to be delayed until repairs to a tower block are carried out.
Green councillor Ellen McLeay asked Brighton and Hove City Council leaders about the delay in repairs to Theobald House, in Blackman Street, which is holding up the building of the play area.
Councillor McLeay, who represents West Hill and North Laine, asked how the council could justify a seven-year delay to resolve a building safety issue.
She said that the tower block had been “wrapped in scaffolding” for five years because of falling concrete.
The scaffolding had a safety “crash deck” to protect residents and visitors from any potential falling concrete.
Repairs to concrete on the lower levels were finished but the crash deck needed to remain in place until completion of the full programme of repairs.
Councillor McLeay said that residents were told that the work would not start until 2028.
Meanwhile, in 2023 residents were told that a children’s play area would not be provided until the repair works were completed.
Councillor McLeay said: “Families with children, including those with additional needs, continue to live in unsuitable conditions … alongside ongoing safety and anti-social behaviour concerns.
“What is the council doing to improve the safety and wellbeing of children living in tower blocks such as Theobald House?”
Labour councillor Gill Williams, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said that she recognised people’s concerns about the lack of play space for children at Theobald House.
The repair work had taken longer than expected because of the need for specialist surveys, design work and approvals including from the Building Safety Regulator.
Councillor Williams said: “We appreciate the frustration this has caused, particularly as residents were previously advised that a permanent play area was not possible because works were expected to start sooner.”
The council is looking into introducing some temporary play facilities or improvements to the communal spaces.
She said that the council was working with Sussex Police to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The council was also looking to appoint a “principal contractor” by November before submitting a full application to the Building Safety Regulator which is expected to take a further 40 weeks.
