SIR – Jo Winrow reported in her article, ‘Maintenance work starts on Odeon’ (T&A, February 11) that “the [Odeon’s] roof need[s] to be repaired to prevent water from entering, which if unchecked would pose a risk to the steel frame [of the building]”.
Water ingress has been a problem since at least 2008 when a damaged internal drainpipe was discovered by Odeon campaigners.
Yorkshire Forward repeatedly refused to repair the pipe, possibly causing and almost certainly exacerbating the problem of vegetation sprouting from the building, as well as untold damage to plasterwork, carpets and floors.
Photographs of this vegetation, control of which was entirely in the hands of Yorkshire Forward, have been used in publicity to try and justify the case for demolition of this iconic and important Bradford landmark.
Let’s hope for all our sakes that the HCA’s maintenance work is comprehensive enough to effect this inexpensive repair and prevent further water damage from this obvious cause.
Richard Killip MA (Cantab), Thomas Fyre Drive, London
Editor’s note: The T&A reported in February 2011 that Yorkshire Forward had spent £640,000 on maintenance, security and repairs to the former Odeon building.
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