Our building has partially collapsed, I need to take it further and find the help/advice of a structural engineer...does anyone know/work with one?

[zephyrcat]

A week ago today, our building partially collapsed. It is an L shaped block adjoined by a communal stairway. The courtyard and walkway of two flats next to the stairway completely collapsed. (I have lots of photos which I will figure out how to put up here!)

The structural engineer for the council came out the same morning that it collapsed and the council told us were were safe to return to the building. We are not convinced!! The council have fobbed the residents off for years, and have even admitted that the whole block has moved through subsidence.

To cut along story short, we came back from holiday yesterday and nothing has been touched, which tells me that there is a problem with moving the collapsed structure, but the council won't admit it.

I need to finds a way to speak to an independant structural engineer for advice so that I can take this further. I need to find out how to go about going over and above our local council/housing and possibly involving a higher level of media coverage in order to get something done, but I have no idea where to begin or where we stand legally.

A petition is another option I am considering, but want to be sure I am going about it all the right way to have an impact.

If there is anyone at all that could give me some advice it would be very much appreciated.

I'd go straight to your local paper and get your local counsellor involved. They live for stuff like this.

You can find a structural engineer in your area through the Institute of Structural Engineers here

The council have a legal necessity to sort this problem out. If you get in a structural engingeer, you will be the ones paying for the assessment and good luck reclaiming the money on that.

Contact the press, your MP and make sure the council know you're doing this. Buildings that collapse aren't safe!

Best of luck, let us know what happens.

Thanks everyone. I am struggling with what to do about this. We had a meeting with the local councillors today and they are pressing for extra evidence to get a complain referred to the ombudsman, reporting the council for negligence. I still need advice from anyone who knows about buildings/strucure so that when I present my argument, it at least looks a little like I know what I'm talking about and also to find out if the points I am making are valid.
Our council are covering up and being very vague about the whole thing as they know they are in a heap of trouble. I need to kick them while they're down so to speak.