Haven Bridge pub scaffolding row sees meeting suspended

But they met their match in a man fighting for the cause of a scaffolding firm who brought a Great Yarmouth Borough Council meeting to an abrupt halt because he refused to stop talking.

The extraordinary scenes saw councillors trying to quieten the man, who was in the public gallery, but without success.

It meant the room had to be cleared and the meeting suspended, with the chairman leading councillors out of the chamber.

The row was the latest flare-up of a two-year dispute in the town over a derelict pub.

Local firm KB Scaffolding say the council owes them £400,000 for the cost of scaffolding around the Haven Bridge pub, which the firm put up in 2022 following a fire at the building.

The company has said it cannot just remove the supports, because the building is at risk of collapse.

But the council say they are not liable for the costs because they do not own the property.

Scaffolders at work outside Haven Bridge pub following the 2022 fire (Image: KB Scaffolding)

SHOWDOWN OVER SCAFFOLDING

At Tuesday night's scrutiny committee meeting, James Wilson, the council's head of environment and sustainability, updated councillors with details from a recent structural survey of the pub.

He said the report, conducted with the scaffolding in place, "did not show any imminent danger to the public". 

As councillors began to ask questions, Ray Clarke, who spoke in support of the scaffolding firm, stood up to address councillors from the public gallery. 

He asked to say something in response, asking why the council has yet to agree to a meeting with the company to "sort out the problem without costly court proceedings".

But the committee's chairman Bernard Williamson quickly attempted to make him stop, saying he would be forced to "close the meeting and clear the room" if he did not do so.

Ray Clarke attempting to speak at the Great Yarmouth Borough Council meeting (Image: Owen Sennitt)

But Mr Clarke persevered and pleaded for them to listen to the company's plight.

As calls for the exchange to end continued, Mr Clarke kept speaking and suggested they "close the meeting then", before adding: "Why did I waste my time coming here to ask a question?"

It was at this point there were calls to clear the room and the meeting halted.

While other attendees waited for the meeting to resume, officials talked to Mr Clarke behind closed doors.

After 30 minutes, the meeting started up again - without Mr Clarke.Mr Clarke became frustrated during the exchange at the Great Yarmouth Borough Council meeting (Image: Owen Sennitt)

AFTERMATH

Afterwards, the firm's owner, Michael Black - who had accompanied Mr Clarke, a concerned member of the public, to the meeting - explained they had been speaking with councillors beforehand who had suggested they would be able to speak at the event, which led to the confusion.

But under committee rules, the opportunity for members of the public to speak was not allowed.

Mr Wiliamson apologised for the disruption following the incident. Cabinet member for environment, Conservative councillor Paul Wells, said he "fully endorsed the chair's actions."

Councillors and officers were told to clear the room after the meeting was halted (Image: Owen Sennitt)

"This is a very important building and [Haven Bridge] is a key entrance to the town so it is important we get it right."

'SITUATION OUT OF HAND'

Mr Black, who is considering taking legal action, said the firm was growing increasingly frustrated at the council's lack of response to its plight.

Great Yarmouth's town hall (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2014)

He said has sent about 200 emails to councillors and local MP Brandon Lewis over the last two years but has received few responses.

"We thought we'd be able to say our piece but it got stopped and everyone walked out.

"The situation is getting out of hand and it needs resolving."

A file photo of councillor Bernard Williamson on Haven Bridge (Image: Newsquest)

PUB AT THE HEART OF IT

The dispute centres around who is liable to pay the bill for the scaffolding, which the firm erected around the Haven Bridge pub as the fire was still smouldering as an emergency measure.

Both the council and the owner of the building deny responsibility for authorising it to be put up.

KB Scaffolding believes the council is liable, as the authority has a "duty of care" to keep the building safe.

"If we take it down we will put the public at risk," Mr Black said. 

READ MORE: Plans for major development of more than 100 homes in village dropped at last minute

A drone image taken after the fire showing the structural damage done to the pub (Image: Oliv3r Drone Photography)

"We are at a stalemate but it needs resolving, or we will have to take the parties involved to court."

He believes the firm's actions helped save the council millions of pounds as it prevented the closure of nearby Haven Bridge.

Firefighters continued to dampen down the Haven Bridge pub the following day after the fire (Image: Denise Bradley)

GYBC continues to be locked in discussions with the freeholder and leaseholder in its attempts to find a resolution.

Pub owner Martin Bennington has said his insurance company refused to pay any compensation following the fire, which is causing delays to any works to the building as he seeks to overturn that decision.  

Following the fire, Steam Mill Lane remains closed which is affecting businesses in the street.  

KB Scaffolding employees at work outside the Haven Bridge pub (Image: KB Scaffolding)

POSITIVE SIGNS FOR FIRM?

Mr Clarke's intervention at the meeting does seem to have had a positive outcome for the firm.

The authority's solicitor and case officer has agreed to meet with the scaffolders' legal team to find a solution to the issue without going to court.

In a Facebook post, Mr Clarke said: "Let’s hope this happens and it brings to an end this ridiculous matter."

In the post, he described it as an "interesting meeting".

He added: "I raised my hand to make a point and was told by the chairman that members of the public could not speak.

"I asked why was I told by a committee member I could speak and why did the chairman ignore my email request for space on the agenda to raise a point of matter.

"At this point, I was asked to leave the chamber several times but I refused.

"The chairman announced the meeting would be cancelled and they all walked out apart for a handful of committee members who were willing to listen to the facts I presented.

"I must say it was good to speak to people who were willing to listen to your views and concerns, to those people I thank you."