Issue - decisions

1.        Recommendations

1.1    It is the recommendation of this report that Cabinet Member for City Management & Air Quality approves the design & implementation of the further urgent interim safety measures identified in Section 1.6 of this report at a total estimated gross cost of £4,250,000, of which £890,000 has been approved previously under a Delegated Authority Report, as detailed in Section 5 of this report.

2.        Reasons for Decision 

2.1       Having identified a potential evacuation risk to users of the Piccadilly Underpass in the event of a fire in the underpass, it is essential that the Council does all it reasonably can to implement the recommended urgent interim safety measures as soon as reasonably practicable to minimise the risk to tunnel users and improve safety.

2.2          Implementing these urgent interim safety measures improves the safety for tunnel users and reduces the Council’s risk exposure.

2.3          The urgent interim safety measures have been recommended by the Council’s Tunnel Safety Officer (TSO) and Tunnel Manager (TM). These are both statutory roles in accordance with tunnel safety regulations, their decision takes into account recommendations from current fire regulations.

2.4          Failure to implement these measures could result in a recommendation that the tunnel is closed until the main scheme to replace the current ventilation fans is complete (Phase 2). These Phase 2 works are unlikely to be fully delivered until Autumn/Winter 2023/24.