Car dealers seek dust-up over Rank Hovis building demolition.
Representatives of 16 car dealerships claim that the vehicles on their forecourts have been covered in dust by the demolition works taking place at the former Rank Hovis factory at Witham near Hull.
Tony Beaumont runs Pick A Car in the area. He said: “It has been terrible. We had 50 cars covered in dust.
“We have had to explain to customers what has been going on. “We are having to jet wash them all, which is a three-day job. “All the car showrooms are in the same boat and it has affected our business. It is very annoying.”
A spokesman for Auto Select also echoed the frustration. “We woke up to a winter scene, all our cars were white. We had already spoken to the demolition company and they told us we wouldn’t be affected. We have spent much of our time apologising to customers. “We understand the pumps that help dampen the dust haven’t been working but the company still went ahead.”
However, Leeds-based Demolition Services Ltd, which is carrying out the work, hit back, describing the claims as “spurious and mischievous”.
A spokesman said: “We have been accused by some 16 car businesses, in the Hovis Mill locality, of failing to provide adequate dust suppression while carrying out our demolition works, culminating in alleged business disruption and damaged goods.
“We were requested by a complainant to arrange a senior member of our staff to visit their premises, first hand, to witness the alleged allegations. Following this visit, it is our considered opinion the allegations concerned are spurious and mischievous, to say the least. Furthermore, the demolition works currently being undertaken by ourselves are all in accordance with current legislation and we will continue to carry out these works using adequate dust control techniques. Under the circumstances the allegations are denied and this matter will now be dealt with by our Public Liability Insurers.”
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