“Significant” health and safety problems involving rain and broken glass falling into Jolly’s department store have emerged.
The Jolly’s store on Milsom Street
Bath & North East Somerset Council, which owns the building on Milsom Street, has this week given an assurance that safety measures are in place following the issues last year.
The extent of what happened is highlighted in two planning applications by the council for repair and alteration work to a total of five skylights at the Grade II listed building.
A design, access and heritage statement prepared by Ferguson Mann Architects on behalf of the council notes: “The property at 7-14 Milsom Street has been experiencing leaks and deterioration of external and internal fabric for a number of years, assumed to be the consequence of inadequate maintenance regimes and poor detailing in certain instances.
“During 2023 this has culminated in large quantities of water entering the shop area below, causing severe damage to the fabric and also providing significant health and safety issues to the staff and public using these premises on a daily basis.”
The report says that skylight 2 had five broken panes of glass “which were falling into the trading area below, therefore this instigated an urgent package of repair works, completed in late 2023”.
One of the damaged skylights at the store | Photo © Ferguson Mann Architects / B&NES Council
Skylight 3 also had several slipped and broken panes of glass which were falling into the shop which again meant urgent work had to be done late last year.
The report says skylight 4 had many of the same issues as skylight 3 but is in a worse condition, with extensive rotten sections of timber.
Repair works haven’t yet begun but the skylight has been covered with temporary plastic sheeting to minimise water getting in.
There is also an application for repairs and alterations to skylights 12 and 13 which both have several cracked panes of glass that are at risk of falling into the trading area and allowing rainfall in.
Both are said to have decayed and rotting timber casements: “This has instigated the need for an urgent package of repair works to be completed in 2024.”
This week Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for Resources told the Bath Echo: “The council is working closely with the occupier on a long-term maintenance programme for the building and a full review of the roofs is under way.
“Temporary repairs have been carried out to two lantern lights while planning consent for full repairs are pending, however safety measures are in place and there is full and safe access throughout the store for visitors.”
Consultation on both planning applications closes on 24th May.
