THe RePORt’S FinDinGS – in FUll

“One can see at close quarter where the corrosion to the reinforcement bars has occurred, and where sections of the concrete have fallen away.

“During our inspection we were able to remove several large sections of concrete at least 300mm in length and 60mm in breadth. Were these to fall away they would cause very significant and fatal damage at ground level.

“The situation is slightly worsened by the presence of the granite pebble layer on the face of the panels. In this case the spalling and expansion of the concrete is causing some of these pebbles to be forced off the surface of the panel and these, too, fall to the ground with potentially devastating effects.

“Our concern is that where the slots are cast for the supporting pegs and brackets, the thickness of the concrete is significantly reduced… corrosion and spalling in this area could cause the face of the concrete to fall away.

“This would result in the peg being exposed and the panel potentially unsupported or unrestrained. Given the foregoing we consider that, although unlikely, the risk of a concrete panel falling away cannot be ruled out.

“There is a single panel to the south elevation where urgent and immediate works have been undertaken...This panel has an approximate weight on 0.8 metric tonnes and if it had fallen the effects would have been devastating.”

An aerial picture of Ashford town centre in 1966, with the police station in Tufton Street, opposite the Swan pub, with its distinctive tower