Cold house for housing executive employees

Just as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) was offering advice to housholders on how best to avoid burst pipes it was hit by problems of its own courtesy of the Artic conditions encasing the North West.

Last week staff at the Executive's Richmond Chambers accommodation at Ferryquay Street were told to go home at approximately 11am after the internal heating system was affected by the freezing weather.

The Sentinel has learned workers were allowed to go home on Monday, January 4, after the use of electrical heaters to help thaw out the foundering employees triggered a general electrical fault in the building.

A spokesperson for the District Office explained: "Last Monday morning there was a major electrical problem in Richmond Chambers which affected heating, lighting, the use of computers and telephones.

"Due to the adverse weather and the associated lack of any form of heating in the office staff were given the opportunity to go home.

"In the meantime all arrangements relating to maintenance repairs were transferred to another office until the problem was resolved later in the afternoon."

The spokesperson added: "We are not aware of any significant inconvenience to tenants as a result of this. If anyone was inconvenienced due to this problem, we sincerely apologise, but unfortunately it was outside the Housing Executive's control."