Cement damages county buildings

The structural problems at the college were found during refurbishment work

About 100 buildings in Nottinghamshire could be structurally unsafe, officials have said.

Earlier this week, part of Bramcote Hills Sport and Community College was forced to close over safety fears.

The problem was caused by high alumina cement, which was also used in the construction of other buildings in the county between the 1950s and 1970s.

Once popular for its strength, the concrete weakens over time and could even cause structures to collapse.

Executive headteacher of the college Kevin Dean said engineers found the structure of some buildings to be unsafe while carrying out maintenance work on the roof which had crumbling cement.

"They found out that the type of cement was one that caused problems in buildings in the past, worldwide basically."

Other problems

About 200 students will now be sent to nearby schools for the new academic term while the fate of the damaged buildings is decided.

County councillor Joyce Bosnjak said buildings in Nottinghamshire which were constructed during the time when the cement was used are being examined.

"We have narrowed it down to the kind of buildings that have got a combination of not just the cement but other things that are the cause of this particular problem.

"And they think it is somewhere in the region of about 100 and we will be doing some more exploratory investigations to rule them out or take whatever measures are required," she said.