Heating fails as boiler room is smashed

Council repairs team works all night to get boilers working

Over 500 households were left without heating and hot water overnight when vandals broke into the boiler room next to Merlin House on the Alma Road estate.

The break-in was reported at about 8pm on Tuesday 29th November. Residents found that the heating was not working in any of the flats and it became apparent that there was something wrong with the boilers.

When they arrived on the scene, contractors discovered that the control panels to the boilers were smashed and that the aluminium sheeting that is normally wrapped around the piping had been removed.

Senior estate manager, Jerry Francis, said, “Our contractors worked all night and were able to make a temporary repair by 12noon the following day. Fortunately it was a mild night and our residents have been extremely patient. We are puzzled since the aluminium sheeting is only worth about £5 and was left inside the boiler room, as were the parts of the control panel.”

In order to get into the boiler room the vandals kicked in the wooden doors. This is the first time the room had been vandalised since the estate was built. A temporarily metal door has been fitted and a strong metal door will soon be installed as a permanent replacement.

Cllr Matthew Laban, cabinet member for housing added, “Vandalism is unnecessary at any time but this is has caused considerable disruption to many residents. We have been able to sort this problem quickly. Thanks are due to all residents on the estate and to the repairs team. The police are now investigating this break-in.”

Anyone with information should call the estate office on 020 8379 5721 or local police on 020 8366 1212

This document was last updated on 2006-12-01 15:38:46 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_127487