Edzell residents angered by Inglis Hall damage
RESIDENTS of Edzell are outraged after a council employee broke a door in the Inglis Memorial Hall in what has been described as an 'avoidable' incident.
The 100 year old door to the committee room in the B-listed building was damaged on purpose by a member of staff who had accidentally locked it from the wrong side so a wedding party could continue without interruption – but residents say there was no need to take such drastic steps, with two other doors leading into the locked room.
The incident occurred because the regular hall keeper was off on holiday and the stand-in wasn't aware of the layout of the hall nor had keys to open all the doors.
A number of locals have already complained to the council, saying any repairs should be like-for-like.
One villager, who contacted the Brechiner having seen the damage at a recent birthday party, said: "It's all taped up now in duct tape, but the damage has been done.
"Apparently the staff member locked the door from the other side and then decided to break through it to get back through, but there are three entrances to that room.
"It was totally avoidable. The council are going on about alleged budget restrictions, but this is going to cost the taxpayer a few pounds."
Another resident said: "I think the door is made of either varnished oak or pitch pine. Scottish Architecture's website describes this as 'dense, old growth timber which is impossible to get nowadays for love or money.' It could cost a lot of money to fix this door – if it is fixable at all.
"It's been managed for 100 years without damage being done, and now this."
Another villager said: "It's a ridiculous situation. The hallkeeper, I am led to believe, was at home and could have been contacted - she lives five minutes from the Inglis Hall."
Villagers also questioned whether or not repairs will be like-for-like, while others complained about new damage to tiles next to the door, asking if these are to be repaired too.
The door has been taken off its hinges until a repair can be carried out.
Council leader Bob Myles said he was disappointed by the incident.
He said: "At the time, there was a wedding party soon to be going ahead. The member of staff had locked the door from the other side and had no other recourse than to break the door as he didn't have the key to the other doors.
"He did break one of the panels, which will have to get repaired.
"It was disappointing that it happened and discussions are ongoing to stop it happening again."
Mr Myles said copies of the keys to the other doors to the committee room are also being made to prevent a repeat.
A spokesperson for Angus Council said: "An internal lobby door leading to the committee room at Edzell's Inglis Memorial Hall was accidentally snibbed shut by a member of staff during a tour of the building with Tayside Fire and Rescue.
"This problem came to light a few days later, on Friday July 2. Various efforts to acquire a key and also to access the lobby by other means failed. There was a wedding booked for the weekend and because this locked door was preventing access to lighting and electrical supplies for the main wedding venue ,as a last resort , a member of staff broke the smallest and thinnest panel of the door to gain entry.
"The door panel, the size of an A4 sheet of paper, will be repaired using appropriate materials and the brass handles which were already loose, will be replaced by newly made ones. There was no other damage caused.
"We regret that this happened but the member of staff felt that having exhausted other options, he had to gain entry in the best interests of the wedding party."
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Weather for Brechin
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
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