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Parliament to close for essential repairs

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Published Date: 03 February 2008
THE Scottish Government will spend more than £100,000 on a series of repairs to the controversial £414m Holyrood building.
A programme of maintenance work will be carried out during the February recess.

The work, which will cost approximately £115,000, includes repair of the public stairs, repair and refurbishment of the foyer and the replacement of some window blinds
.

In addition, energy-efficient light bulbs will be installed in some areas of the Holyrood building.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) had previously agreed to close the building to the public during the recess to allow for maintenance to take place, instead of having to bring workmen in at weekends or overnight.

A spokesman said: "The February recess work will be met from the annual maintenance budget."

Holyrood became the centre of controversy as it was beset by delays and ballooning costs. Prior to the devolution referendum, ministers estimated that the building would cost between £10m and £20m. That figure soon grew to £40m and then rose to an estimate of £440m as politicians and builders argued over changes to the design.

Since official completion in 2004, it has needed several repairs as windows have cracked and a beam in the debating chamber ceiling came loose and dangled over MSPs' heads.

One of the biggest challenges for engineers is the fact the many of the parts, including windows, have to be custom-built.

Despite the delays and the cost, the Scottish parliament has won a number of architectural awards, including the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture, and the 2005 Stirling Prize, the UK's most prestigious architecture award.

In 2005, it was identified as Scotland's fourth greatest modern building by readers of Prospect magazine.



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1

BK,

Cyberspace 03/02/2008 00:29:22
What? Already? A £420m building which is only four years old?
2

Scottish Politics,

03/02/2008 00:31:11
The Scottish Parliament is paying for this, not the Scottish Government. Geez, schoolboy errors from journalists who should know better.
3

Roberta Burns,

03/02/2008 01:14:23
It should be the builders. Is it not under warranty?
4

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 03/02/2008 07:35:56
The House of Commons is tendering for refurbishment work to replace the roof of the Palace of Westminster, including Westminster Hall.

The estimated cost is anywhere between £400 - £500 millions but only if these buildings remain occupied during the work!
5

celticsnowdrop,

03/02/2008 11:38:56
the ugliest building ever.......still remember the day I turned the corner and saw what I thought was a partialy demolished building and a total eyesore, you could imagine my horror when I realised it was Hollyrood.

AFTER MUCH DEBATING WITH MYSELF I DECIDED IT LOOKED LIKE A GREAT BONFIRE AND SHOULD BE SET ON FIRE THUS SAVING THIS NATION MONEY AND RESTORING OUR PRIDE>
6

Tweedmouth,

Coldstream 03/02/2008 12:16:09
#3 "The Scottish Parliament is paying for this, not the Scottish Government."

I'm afraid you are completely wrong. The TAXPAYER is paying for this. Neither the 'Scottish Government' nor Parliament has ANY money of its own. It has OUR money!
7

OscarMacApfel,

Dumfries 03/02/2008 13:02:47
I wonder how much of OUR £440 million ended up in the pockets of Labour donating contracters?

8

williamx,

canada 03/02/2008 17:27:59
#8 probably a lot.
9

The 'Menace',

Edinburgh, 09/02/2008 20:10:30
and then there was the Tollbooths,n,on,n,on,n,on...
10

Alberto.,

17/02/2008 08:39:15
Essential repairs - does that include 'removing and or replacing' the current set of Political inhabitants, or will that be placed 'on hold!'

 

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