Evolution Cove emergency cordon to stay in place until end of May (at the earliest)

The emergency cordon around the Evolution Cove apartments will remain in place until the end of May - at the earliest.

A meeting with businesses affected by road blocks and traffic chaos was told on Tuesday night (Aprl 21) that it will take until May 28 for structural engineers to make proper assessments and decisions about how to support the crumbling development.

The building, in Durnford Street, Stonehouse, which is less than 20 years old, was vacated after it became apparent that metalwork inside the concrete support pillars had corroded and failed. Serious cracks had appeared in the structure's basement car park - prompting fears of collapse.

Residents of the 62 apartments are not allowed inside - even to collect vital belongings.

Quite how engineers will get under a crumbling building to install support struts is a question that has The Beagle scratching heads. But Plymouth Council has put out a statement reassuring residents that Evolution Cove is not condemned.

"Work is currently being undertaken by the building’s managing agents, Centrick, to assess its current condition and put measures in place to ensure safety. Centrick has advised that this work is expected to take around eight weeks from when residents were originally asked to leave the building," the council said.

The council is not able to say when road closures - which have caused chaos in the Stonehouse area and have impacted on businesses - might be lifted.

"At this stage, we do not yet have confirmed timescales for reopening the roads.  Once the current structural engineers’ review is complete and we fully understand the risks to public safety, we would be hopeful that roads could reopen when it is safe to do so, based on expert advice."

At last night's online meeting, many of the impacted businesses asked PCC about business rate relief and compensation for damage to trade.

• Are you affected? Email The Beagle: ContactTheBeagle@gmail.com