CHURCH COLLAPSE VICTIM WAS ‘TREASURED’ FAMILY MAN
TRIBUTES TO HARD-WORKING DAD OF TWO AS POLICE PROBE CITY BUILDING CAVE-IN
TRIBUTES have been paid to a dad who died when a former church collapsed in Cardiff.
Jeffrey Joseph Plevey, 55, from Cardiff, was killed by the falling building on Tuesday afternoon.
He had been working on the demolition of the Citadel in Adamsdown when it collapsed.
A keen golfer and member of Wenvoe Castle Golf Club, Mr Plevey’s family described him as hard working and the “life and soul of any gathering”.
The tribute, released by South Wales Police, read: “We are saddened to announce the passing of Jeff – a muchloved and treasured member of our family.
“A hard-working man who was always life and soul of any gathering, of which there were many. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.”
Maria Hutchings wrote on the Mostyn High School Facebook page: “Just found out it was Jeff Plevey who was the man who died in the Splott Road accident.
“Jeff we will all miss your cheeky smile loved you great guy RIP mate”.
Danny O’Donovan wrote online: “So sorry to hear of the building collapse in Cardiff took one of our school mates and a true gent RIP Jeff Plevey.”
Terry Hardwicke said on Facebook: “So gutted just heard my good friend of many years Jeff Plevey was tragically killed today in the building that collapsed in Cardiff. Top man, top footballer, such a top guy. RIP Plev xx.”
Christopher Beer said: “Jeff Plevey RIP just doing your job so sad.
“Top man funny and a gentleman will be missed especially on the golf course. Regards to all of Jeff’s family and friends.”
Ronnie Rahman said: “Just got the shocking news about my old mate Jeff Plevey RIP matey, top guy, thoughts are with the family.”
He died after the Citadel, on the junction of Splott Road and Pearl Street in Adamsdown, collapsed at 2.50pm on Tuesday. Police, fire and ambulance crews were all called to the scene. Two other people managed to escape with minor injuries.
Following a recovery operation by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the All Wales Urban Search and Rescue Team, officers confirmed yesterday that Mr Plevey’s body was recovered from the rubble and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A joint investigation is now underway between South Wales Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Detective Inspector Ian Bourne, said: “I would like to pay tribute to my emergency and rescue service colleagues who worked in difficult and challenging circumstances yesterday. I would also like to offer my condolences to the family of the man who sadly lost his life.
“Our aim now, together with the Health and Safety Executive, is to carry out a robust investigation and establish the cause of this tragic incident.”
Rubble fell onto the railway when the building collapsed and services were disrupted as a result.
Concerns had been raised about the condition of the building in September last year.
Inspectors were not able to get to the rear of the building due to it being “inaccessible”.
A report presented to Cardiff council shows that warnings had been raised about the state of the building in 2016. The concerns included that the rear of the building had already partially collapsed and needed to be stabilised.
It also said the support at the rear of the building was “inadequate”.
A number of cracks to the internal masonry were seen, particularly to the wall next to the railway and it warned that rubble from any collapse could fall onto, and damage, the railway tracks.
In September, an application was made to Cardiff council for permission for the building – which stands on Splott Road and Pearl Street in Adamsdown – to be demolished.
As with any such request, reports and paperwork have to be submitted.
In the papers, M Gulley is named as the person applying for permission to demolish the building.
A report to councillors about the state of the building and how the demolition would take place was compiled by architects C2J, based on evidence by Bruton Knowles.
The Bruton Knowles report was published on June 30, 2016, following on from a visit to the site on June 2. It was commissioned ahead of plans to demolish the Victorian Splott Road Bridge and build a new one.
It said inspectors were unable to inspect the rear of the property during their visit as it was “inaccessible”
and “unsafe”. No trackside access was gained and checks were made from the ground level.
The report said: “The rear of the building has suffered from ‘partial collapse’ with large sections of the basement wall missing.”
It added that the section of wall that remained “should be stabilised” to prevent any further collapse from occurring”
It warned: “The rear elevation which is in close proximity to the adjacent railway track has partially collapsed and whilst is presently supported, this is inadequate and would need to be better supported to prevent further collapse potentially onto the adjacent railway line”.
As for the danger of collapse in relation to works on the neighbouring bridge, it said: “Careful consideration will need to be given to ensuring the design of the new bridge does not affect the structural integrity of the building, along with the close proximity of the rear elevation to the railway tracks. The design will need to consider vibration and its impact on the building.
“Potential stabilisation and shoring up of the existing structure will need to be undertaken before works commence to prevent any further collapse”.
Vanessa Poole, manager of the Bakers Dozen on Splott Road for 10 years, said: “I have lived in this area for 39 years and it has been unstable for at least the last 10.
“I was hoping it would be renovated because it was such a beautiful shape.”
Gaynor Cowling, 58, who lives on Railway Street and used to visit the Citadel when it was a second-hand shop, said: “I think it should have been brought down a long time ago. When I used to go in there years ago it looked a bit unsafe. It hasn’t looked right for donkeys’ years.”
Steph Greedy, of University Place in Splott, said: “It was such a beautiful building, but it hasn’t been used for years. And most of the people here will say it was bound to happen one way or another.”
Local MP Jo Stevens said there were a “lot of questions to answer” during the investigation. She said the hands of councils are often tied when it comes to derelict buildings.
Asked if it was something that should be changed in the legislation, she said: “It might be something that legislation could look at, about the responsibility of property owners to make sure that a building is structurally sound and doesn’t pose a risk. That’s something I’ll look at it.
“There are a lot of questions I want to ask. At the moment, the most important thing is to let the HSE complete their investigation and tell us what they find.”
Ward councillor Nigel Howells said: “Lots of residents and councillors have, over the years, been asking about what’s happening with the building. Then there was the report about the demolition and I didn’t oppose the demolition because the report was quite clear that the building was unsafe.”
He said he has asked the council’s chief executive to make sure all available resources are given to investigators.
Coun Howells has also asked questions on behalf of residents about safety in relation to dust thrown up by the building collapse and how long road closures will last.
Last month, a new application for flats to be built on the site had been approved by councillors but is yet to be formally signed off.