Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera is shown the damage at the San Ġwann local council offices. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

San Ġwann local council is providing a limited service from the porch of its offices pending a safety audit on the premises after parts of the ceiling fell over the weekend.

When they reported for work on Monday, council staff noticed that big chunks of concrete had fallen from the ceiling of a multipurpose room. An inspection was carried out the following day to determine whether the premises were structurally safe. A report is being drawn up.

The offices remained closed for the public and staff were yesterday seeing to San Ġwann residents on the front porch. Blood glucose and pressure level tests were done in premises provided by the parish priest.

Following a visit to the office, Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera said the Director of Local Councils would be asked to do a report on the damage and the process that was followed when the council bought its premises.

The house, built in the late 1960s or early 1970s, was converted into offices when it was bought 13 years ago for €223,000. The council still has to pay €90,000 of that amount.

From what I saw, the structural problems are huge

Eighteen months ago, the floor of the council hall caved in. Supports were set up in the basement of the two-storey building and the place was deemed safe.

Trouble cropped up again when parts of the ceiling of the adjacent room, which is used to hold courses and public activities, collapsed over the weekend.

The room was empty at the time of the incident but mayor Etienne Bonello Dupuis said it proved what the council had been saying all along, that the premises were not fit for purpose.

Dr Herrera said it was his duty to see the place with his own eyes because people’s safety was a priority. He was shown around the building, including the space above the multipurpose room, which is stacked with documents, and the reception area, which has water leaking down the ceiling and walls.

“From what I saw, the structural problems are huge,” he told the press outside the building. “I don’t think it is safe for local council staff to provide services and for residents to receive services here.”

Dr Herrera said he would personally intervene so that the council would be allocated temporary premises that had originally been built as a boċċi club on Triq 9 ta’ Frar but were vacant.

Mr Bonello Dupuis noted that Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi had also assured the council funds would be allocated in the Budget for the completion of a project in Karin Grech Garden (opposite the church), which would include new council offices.