As part of the ongoing support Plymouth City Council is giving to the residents most impacted by the Keyham bomb incident, the Council has called on the support of the local construction industry to repair the damage left behind by the Army.
Today (Thursday 7 March), senior council officers, along with a representative of Building Plymouth, met with the residents at St Michael Avenue.
Building Plymouth is an award winning, Council-led partnership with the construction industry. Working together, they help connect businesses and local people with opportunities for skills, training, education, careers and jobs in the construction and built environment sector. With over 60 member organisations, they engage with clients, contractors, consultants and the supply chain and have delivered a number of community initiatives to help improve the quality of life in the city.
As a gesture of goodwill, Building Plymouth has arranged for a local landscaping company, to go to St Michael’s Avenue and assess the gardens of the three damaged properties to see if they are able to volunteer their help with repairs – particularly with the back wall and damaged decking.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We are aware that the Army did leave a lot of damage in their wake following the incident in Keyham.
“Building Plymouth is a stellar partnership, led by the Council, but made up of construction companies across the city. I am thrilled that they have offered their support at no cost to the residents or to the Council, and I am hopeful that following their assessment, they will be able to assist with some of the major issues that the army left behind. This is another example of everyone coming together to show community spirit during an emergency. When the chips are down, Plymouth has stepped up.”
Since the incident, the Council has continued to provide support to the residents in Keyham. This includes, installing temporary fencing in gardens, offering one household a two-day deep cleaning service, paying for their carpet and sofa to be cleaned, offering vouchers to replace broken items and for food, repairing gutting and cleaning out blocked drains, fixing windows and offering to arrange the repair of a broken boiler.
Councillor Evans, added: “We have tried really hard to support residents following this distressing upheaval. But, despite what others might be saying publicly, it is not the Council’s role to pay for repairs to private properties following an emergency.
“We have a responsibility to support communities as they recover and signpost people to where they can access relevant help and support. And whilst we know that all the properties are waiting for their insurance companies to carry out an assessment, I am pleased that in the meantime things are looking more hopeful, following our move to connect the residents with Building Plymouth.
“Fingers crossed they will be able to help quickly restore the damaged gardens.”