Another emergency call out for building control

One of the less well known roles of building control is supporting the emergency services in incidents involving dangerous structures. In November 2022, Dorset council's building control team assisted the fire brigade and other first responders after a driver accidently drove their car into an end of terrace house in Swanage.

Fortunately, the driver was uninjured and no-one was inside the house at the time, but the accident caused extensive damage to the property, requiring local public service building control to take emergency action to make the site safe.

David Kitcatt Dorset Building Control Manager said, “Following a vehicle collision in Swanage building, control was called out by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to check the structural integrity of an end of terrace property. We worked with the fire service, police and property owners to arrange contractors to make the property structurally safe, including temporary supports to the building and security fencing.”

^{Picture credit: Swanage Fire Station and Bournemouth Echo}

Emergency services remained on site until it was made safe.

Further coverage of the incident from local papers.

• https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23123027.car-collides-house-swan…
• https://www.swanage.news/car-crashes-into-terraced-house-in-swanage/
• https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23123325.car-collides-house-swanage-s…