Hello,
In Mondays issue of the Express and Star 26 April 2010, it was reported that the council are aware that the Red House Cone is suffering 'ongoing deterioration' and that it has been placed on the 'at risk' register.
Amazing how on the ball these people are. I seem to remember drawing attention to this problem sometime last year, along with a number of other people.
However, although this may be problematic, you will all be pleased to hear that it is being monitored by the highly technical system of "The day-to-day management of the site involving the visually monitoring the condition of the building.". Yes, John Miller, Director of Urban Environment is content with this since "... the council's nominated structural engineer does not have any immediate concerns.....".
What does this mean? That if work starts on DMBC's proposal to move the collections to a 'suitable world class site' (of our choosing), the Red House Cone, any building work could bring on the implosion of the building? Or, does it mean that it is robust enough to withstand any day-to-day vibration experienced when juggernauts pass by? Or that, as is well known about glass cones, and the reason that this example is only one of four left in the UK, that the building could give out overnight with no notice?
If you think that this is scare mungering then ask what is being done to maintain the credibility of the structure and what was done in the past to keep cones standing. Unfortunately, the remedies of the past cannot now be used, since they are against Health and Safety (for once for good reason, because of their flammability), but apparently nothing is possible in its stead. Visual inspection is no remedy, and frankly, would IMHO make DMBC palpable should anything untoward happen, since they have been warned.
Nigel