Keep railings safe

After a recent incident involving a small child, anyone living in a property with a basement light well is being advised to check they are secure.

There are many buildings across the town that have these basement light wells - they are most common where access can be gained to a basement flat at the front of large Victorian buildings. If the area around the drops is not well-guarded they can pose a serious risk, especially to those using the main entrance to the building above.

Traditionally, light wells are enclosed by railings to stop anyone falling into them. If you own a building that does not currently have railings, you should look to have them installed, and any railings that show signs of damage should be repaired.

Cllr Andy Batsford, lead councillor for housing and homelessness, said: "We are pleased to hear that the child involved in the accident is making a good recovery, and we now want to encourage anyone living in a property with a light well to make sure they are as safe as possible.

"If you live in your own property, you should check any railings or safety measures. If you are a landlord, please check your properties for the safety of your tenants, and if you are a tenant, if you have concerns please raise these with your landlord.

"While this accident happened with a light well, if you have other safety concerns you should also address these - stair railings and spindles can also pose a safety risk if not properly maintained."

There might be restrictions on the maintenance you can do to your property - if it is a Listed Building or in a conservation area you can carry out like for like repairs without needing planning permission. However, if you wish to replace them or your repair is not like for like, you will need to apply for planning permission (and listed building consent if your property is listed).

More information is available on the council's website.