Concrete case for breakdown of the figures

WHO or what should carry the blame burden for the alarming situation that has arisen over the lower service road at Worthing's Grafton multi-storey car park?

Repairs costing nearly 350,000 are needed to repair concrete beams supporting the large deck area in front of the car park, which was built in the 1960s.

How were these beams allowed to deteriorate into a state which is graphically described as being a danger to people's lives?

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It is an obvious example of a lack of infrastructure investment.

When the seafront edifice was built, concrete was king and was considered a long-term answer to a host of major construction projects. Just think of Worthing's Law Courts and Aquarena, for example . . .

But this material's shortcomings emerged over the following years, and the inclusion of the infamous high alumina cement caused the forcible demolition of some buildings and structures.

Former flats in Clifton Road and a multi-deck car park near Durrington railway station are two Worthing examples.

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The Herald has been told that high alumina cement WAS used in building the Grafton multi-storey, but only in secondary beams.

Well, judging by the severely-corroded beams propping up that waste of space called the deck, it does not say much for the longevity of non-alumina material if this was assigned for load-bearing use.

Worthing Council was, of course, aware of the deteriorating condition of its multi-storeys - hence the now controversial decision a few years ago to hand over the problem and control of the facilities to NCP.

And to be fair to the council on the Grafton matter, three years ago it thought it had sold the site to developers City & Provincial, which planned a 100million complex to replace the present eyesore with a structure worthy of this prime seafront position.

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Thanks to the credit crunch, however, the deal fell through, and the problem was back in Worthing's lap.

City & Provincial compensated the council, but the actual amount is being kept secret.

We think the town's council tax payers have a right to know what the council has received.

Let's hope that it was more than enough to cover the cash which now has to be spent on repairing that service road roof.

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