Scaffold boss drives truck into Jarrow firm in cash row

BROWNED off John Robertson saw red and rammed a firm’s offices after blaming them for his business going bust. His wagon flattened part of the South Tyneside Homes HQ in Jarrow when it ploughed into the entrance. Mr Robertson, 44, claims he smashed into the building where dozens work after his contract was terminated by the housing company which, he said, led to his scaffolding firm going under. Upset at losing his business, Mr Robertson said he drove into the grounds of Strathmore House at Viking Industrial Park and rammed into a company car. He said he then reversed his 22ft company wagon into the entrance and did not stop until the whole vehicle was submerged. The dad-of-four allegedly waited outside for the police to arrive so he could explain why he caused the damage. Mr Robertson, from Jarrow, said: “I know what I did was wrong, but I did it anyway. They destroyed my business. “I only had one customer, which was them, and we had an agreement that I had the exclusive rights to do all of their scaffolding work. I used to turn away business so I could dedicate myself to them. “Then, one day, they called me up and said they weren’t going to use me anymore. Well, that was it for my company. I had to let all 20 workers go.” Mr Robertson claims STH agreed a five-year contract with his Hebburn-based company, Robertson Scaffolding LTD, in 2008. He added STH terminated the contract in November last year. Mr Robertson drove one of his wagons to the housing headquarters in Rolling Mill Road, which oversees housing repairs and maintenance across South Tyneside, including the Decent Homes programme. After crashing into the building he was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage but has not yet been charged with any offences. He is due to answer police bail later this month. Mr Robertson, who lives with wife Susan in York Avenue, added: “When I drove over there I just wanted to leave my wagon in front of the entrance so they could see it in the morning. “But then I saw an electric company car, so I smashed into it. After that looked at the entrance and decided to reverse into that as well. “I waited outside and smoked two cigarettes until the police showed up. “I had no intention of running away. “I wanted to tell them what I did and why I did it. “I told them everything in my police interview.” Workers were drafted in on the morning after the accident to repair the damaged entrance. A police spokeswoman said: “A 44-year-old man from Jarrow has been questioned and bailed after a vehicle was driven into Strathmoor House on March 20. “He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.” A spokesman for STH refused to comment on claims the company terminated Mr Robertson’s contract, but chief executive Isobel Riley said: “We are currently assisting the police with their investigation into the incident.”

Boss to stand in local election

DEFIANT John Robertson has already chosen his next career – and he’s hoping to make it big in local politics. The Chronicle can reveal today that Mr Robertson has thrown his hat into the ring for next month’s local elections. The dad-of-four is standing in the Primrose ward in Jarrow as an Independent candidate. And he’s being backed for the role by Labour MP for Jarrow, Stephen Hepburn, who has supplied a reference to South Tyneside Council. Mr Robertson said: “I have lots of friends who are already councillors and I’ve always been greatly interested in local politics. “I think I could do a great job because I would work for the residents. I don’t think councillors in Primrose do enough for the community. “I’m also a Jarrow lad and know the area and the people as good as anyone.” Mr Hepburn’s reference to the authority said: “I can confirm that I have personally known John Robertson for many years. “Over the period of time we have been acquainted, I have always known him to be an honest, extremely hard-working and reliable individual. “He is dedicated to his business and his employees and supports various activities in the local area. I have no problem giving John a positive reference.” Via: www.chroniclelive.co.uk

NASC ends muddle over ‘basic’ scaffolding definition

The trade body for scaffolding contractors has launched an interactive computer programme to clear up confusion caused by new European standards. Some contractors have struggled to unravel what is classified as a “basic” scaffold and what is deemed more complicated requiring more detailed design work under the new standard. The standard TG20:08 details how tube and fitting scaffolding can be erected to comply with the European standard BS EN 12811-1, which supersedes BS 5973. It has been in force since the start of the year, but much of the industry is still in a muddle about the details that define how the design should be classified to comply with the new regulations. The new guide has been issued by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation in an effort to educate the wider industry and demystify TG20. The interactive programme provides a 3D picture which can be edited, adapted and customised. Once inputted scaffold managers and estimators can determine whether a scaffold passes or fails the criteria for a ‘basic scaffold’. If it does not meet the criteria of a ‘basic scaffold’ the check clearly identifies where a scaffold does and does not meet the requirements allowing users to modify the design until compliant. It can be directly ordered from the NASC by visiting www.nasc.org.uk or specifically http://www.nasc.org.uk/tg20interactiveguide Via: construction enquirer

BIS Salamis Awarded New Five Year Contract With CNR International

Leading industrial services provider, BIS Salamis, has secured a multimillion pound fabric maintenance contract with CNR International (CNRI) which is expected to lead to the creation of a number of additional jobs within the company. The contract will see BIS Salamis provide CNRI with a full spectrum of multi-disciplined fabric maintenance support services for its Tiffany, Murchison, Ninian North, Central and South platforms. Services delivered under this contract include onshore project management and technical support, scaffolding, insulation and painting as well as environmental services, including vessel cleaning, NORM decontamination and shutdown support. Following the award of this contract and other work recently secured, a total of 12 new onshore positions are expected to be created within BIS Salamis and the company is also looking to increase the number of offshore fabric maintenance posts during peak campaign activity. Although BIS Salamis has worked previously with CNRI on its Ninian platforms, the agreement marks the first long term contract with the company for a number of years. Mike Main, Managing Director of BIS Salamis, says the company is delighted to be given the opportunity to work more closely with CNRI and expects the contract to herald the start of an exciting period of growth for the company. He said; “To secure a contract of this magnitude is a significant achievement and a real milestone for BIS Salamis which confirms our position as a leading provider of Industrial Services within the UK’s oil and gas industry. “As a company we are extremely proud of our growing reputation and excellent safety record and will look to work closely with CNRI to maintain our exceptional service levels. In addition to leveraging the skills of our existing personnel, we will also look to recruit the best professionals available to enable us to manage the additional work contained within this new contract.” “The contract award is a perfect start to 2011 and we look forward to building on this success during the year.” BIS Salamis is a leading international services contractor with a proven track record in providing integrated, multi-disciplined support services and maintenance solutions to a range of clients, principally in the energy, petrochemical, industrial and utilities sectors. The company first established a presence in Aberdeen in 1973 and currently employs around 120 onshore and up to 2,000 offshore staff. The Aberdeen office is responsible for all BIS Salamis’ North Sea operations as well as operations in Denmark and Holland. Further information about BIS Salamis is available at www.salamis.com or by calling 01224 246000. Via: Press Release

Scaffolder avoids prison for bat attack on girlfriend

A MAN has narrowly avoided prison for attacking his then girlfriend with a wooden bat, leaving her soaked in blood and needing stitches. Alistair Smith, a 33-year-old scaffolder from Roseberry Road, Exmouth, also rowed with the woman’s work colleague during a social event and threatened him with a kitchen knife. Smith was given 40 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, at Exeter Crown Court. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and to pay £500 compensation to his victim. Smith must also stick to a curfew to stay at home every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 8pm and 8am until August 28. He had admitted assaulting the woman occasioning her actual bodily harm and an offence of affray. The incident happened on October 16 last year, after the victim arranged a leaving party for a colleague and Smith joined them during the evening. At 1.30pm, they headed back to his partner’s home to continue partying and some of the guests left while others went upstairs. A colleague checked the woman’s welfare after hearing the couple rowing and he noticed that Smith was holding a wooden bat behind his back. The colleague went away after Smith’s girlfriend said she was fine but he returned after hearing a crash. The woman had left but Smith was pacing around with a knife in his hand. Prosecutor Howard Phillips said the defendant threatened the colleague with the knife but others came downstairs and Smith calmed down. “The colleague said he was terrified,” Mr Phillips told the court. A taxi driver found Smith’s girlfriend wandering in the street, covered in blood. “She told him her boyfriend had beat her up,” said the prosecutor. “She had a badly swollen face, her left ear was bleeding…she had a laceration to her skull and needed two or three stitches to her scalp.” The woman later told police that she could not remember how she was injured. Mr Phillips said: “She remembered a scuffle and words being exchanged and remembered being punched, flying and falling down, she had to get out of the house to escape.” The defendant made no comment when arrested. He has convictions for dishonesty, when he was a youth, and two for drink-driving and one that was the equivalent of being bound over to keep the peace, in Australia in 2006. Defence counsel Sarah Hornblower said the defendant had apologised to the victim and he was in a new relationship. Judge John Neligan said he was taking into account that Smith had a job and family responsibilities. The judge said the public would be better served if the defendant did unpaid community work instead of being sent to prison. He also ordered Smith to attend a programme to look at his alcohol use. Via: www.thisisexeter.co.uk

Apprentice winner Stella English weds her scaffolder boyfriend

20110403-112843.jpg

APPRENTICE winner Stella English has tied the knot with her scaffolder boyfriend, who has been linked to the criminal underworld. She married Ray Dewar in a quiet ceremony on March 22. A spokesman for the couple said the ceremony, near Colchester, Essex, was ‘a very low-key affair’. Contestants from the last series of Lord Sugar’s hit TV show were among guests. It is believed Stella, 31, invited her boss but Lord Sugar was unable to attend. Dewar, father to Stella’s two sons, Edward, four, and Frank, two, was cleared of intimidating witnesses for a gangland ‘Mr Big’ in 1993. Stella, who grew up in Thamesmead, South-East London, where crime is rife, got engaged to Dewar shortly after landing her £100,000 job earlier this year. Via: www.themirror.co.uk

High winds hit scaffolding on BT building

HIGH winds caused traffic chaos when scaffolding surrounding the new BT development on South Shields riverside became unsafe. Police were forced to close the roads near the building on Harton Staithes at about noon yesterday, over fears the scaffolding could pose a risk to passing motorists and pedestrians. Firefighters were on standby as workers battled against the strong winds to make the steel structure safe, while traffic was diverted away from the building. Lorry driver Billy Carruthers, 49, from Sunderland, said: “There has been a bit of a hold-up and no doubt it’s inconvenient for all of us on the road. “But it could be dangerous if something falls, and they have to keep the place safe.” A police spokesman confirmed the roads were re-opened at around 1pm after the scaffolding was made secure. The controversial building on the Riverside is a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and BT. As part of a strategic partnership between the pair, the telecoms giant agreed to set up its regional headquarters on the riverside location at South Shields. However, the siting of the building has not been without criticism with fears it will block the view of the riverside. Via: www.shieldsgazette.com

Practice makes perfect for scaffolding for the royal wedding

Scaffolders have spent a month mocking up a scaffold in a field to test out the TV viewing platform for the royal wedding. The London firm building the 20ft-high structure first erected it in the Cambridgeshire countryside before attempting to create the “best view in the house” outside Westminster Abbey. The scaffold, to hold 33 TV and radio staff, plus press photographers from around the world, is nearly complete. A prime spot has been secured by the Standard to ensure readers see the best pictures of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 29 wedding. The 24-ton steel structure consists of about 2,000 pieces of German-made scaffolding. Geoff Tyler, general manager of Croydon-based Media Structures, said: “We built the whole thing in a Cambridgeshire field in one month. “We rented the field off a farmer to ensure everything was perfect. There are a lot of different platform levels and we wanted to resolve any issues before getting to the Abbey.” Every detail was recreated in the field beside the Fens near Soham. The structure is so big a construction licence was needed by Westminster council before 15 men could begin assembling it. The scaffold will be covered in plywood and painted in a Cumberland stone finish to match surrounding buildings in Victoria Street and the handrails will be painted silver. A technical firm will ensure the ceremony can be broadcast in high definition. The firm, which impressed with its work at events such as Wimbledon and Trooping The Colour, is building an even bigger media village for 3,000 near Buckingham Palace. Other broadcast structures are being built on the procession route. Via: www.thisislondon.co.uk

Construction worker left blind in one eye after falling from scaffolding

A CONSTRUCTION company near Cambridge has been fined after one of its employees suffered severe head injuries which blinded him in one eye. Builder and fitter John Ingram was refurbishing an agricultural building in Hertfordshire last March when he fell from a tower scaffold erected on top of a freight container. Mr Ingram, 55, of Lode, suffered facial fractures and was in a coma for several days. He was unable to work for eight months following the incident. His employer Balsham (Buildings) Ltd of High Street, Balsham, appeared at Watford Magistrates’ Court today and admitted four breaches of health and safety legislation. The company was fined £14,000 and told to pay £8832.30 costs. Via: www.cambridgefirst.co.uk

Plymouth scaffolder erected dangerous scaffolding

A Plymouth man who erected scaffolding and left it in a dangerous condition had ignored an order to undertake safety training, city magistrates’ heard. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited a residential property in Alma Road, Plymouth on 16 March 2009 and found several basic safety failings in scaffolding erected by Arthur John Tucker for roofing work. Plymouth Magistrates Court heard only one guard rail was found on the working platform that required two, no safety harnesses were used to erect the scaffold and an unsecured scaffold pole was resting on a broken concrete block wall. HSE served a prohibition notice ordering work to stop and Mr Tucker was also served with an improvement notice to undertake training in scaffolding safety, which he had not previously done. Despite these orders inspectors returning to the site found Mr Tucker had failed to carry out the training under and were forced to prosecute. Mr Tucker, of Skylark Rise, Woolwell, Plymouth pleaded guilty to contravening the requirements of an Improvement Notice to provide sufficient training for himself and his employee under Section 33 (1) (g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,108 in costs. The magistrates also ordered Mr Tucker to complete the additional training for himself and his employees within 18 months of the hearing. After sentencing, HSE Inspector, Barry Trudgian, said: “It is absolutely imperative that scaffolding is erected safely by well trained workers to avoid often catastrophic incidents. “Mr Tucker not only illustrated his lack of professionalism when the scaffolding was erected but he then ignored a legal order intended to increase his competence. He has found today that compliance with these notices is compulsory, not optional. “Proper training in scaffolding techniques would have easily avoided the basic mistakes made and created a much safer environment for his own workers and the roofers relying on his workmanship.” Via: HSE (Press Release)

Northampton scaffolding firm boss facing Spain murder charge

SPANISH police have yet to say whether a man from Northampton who stands accused of fatally stabbing another Brit during a bar brawl in Majorca is to be charged with murder. Thomas Swannell, aged 44, of Wellingborough Road, Northampton, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning by police on the Balearic island following the alleged attack in a bar in Magaluf. Swannell, a scaffolding firm boss, was arrested on suspicion of stabbing Gary Vigors, aged 41, from Essex, in the neck with a bottle. He was on an annual cricket tour with Finedon Dolben Cricket Club. He was due to appear in court in Majorca yesterday. Eyewitnesses have spoken about how they found Mr Vigors, a father-of-one, lying on the side of the road following an incident at the popular Cafe Plaza bar, at around 2.20am. Bar staff tried to resuscitate him for several minutes before an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital. He was later pronounced dead by paramedics. It has also emerged the two men did not know each other and were with different groups in Majorca. Finedon Dolben Cricket Club officials have confirmed Swannell has been part of the club “for a little while” and had taken on the responsibility as one of the club’s sponsors this year. Stewart Miller, club chairman, said: “Thomas Swannell has been part of the club for a little while, then as a result he offered to sponsor a few things for us this year. We have many, many sponsors who sponsor anything from a cricket ball to a shirt.” Mr Miller said that most of the club members of the tour returned as planned yesterday afternoon. He added: “We are absolutely devastated and I’m sure that everyone would have been glad to get back to their families. It was very much a family touch with everyone from pensioners to young players, it wasn’t a bunch of lads on their own. The bulk of the people travelling are from Finedon and I would imagine it has been horrendous for all of them.” A spokesman at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office last night confirmed they were aware a British man had been arrested following the incident in Majorca. The Chron attempted to speak to family members at Mr Swannell’s £500,000 home yesterday but they declined. Via: www.northamptonchron.co.uk