One of east London’s most renowned boxing venues could remain shut until next year due to a potentially-deadly bacteria outbreak being discovered.
uncertain
One → remain → outbreak
The first professional boxing fights are said to have taken place at the site on Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, in the 1940s.
asserted
fights → say → 1940s
York Hall’s arena and leisure facilities were closed three months ago after an inspection found Legionella bacteria in the venue’s hot water system.
asserted
inspection → close → system
The bacteria can cause Legionnaires disease - a form of pneumonia - when inhaled with water vapour or mist.
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bacteria → cause → vapour
However, works to remedy the problem could cost Tower Hamlets Council more than £900,000 after loss of earnings are factored in.
uncertain
loss → remedy → earnings
One manager at the site has cautioned that that the January target might be missed if future tests continue to show contamination.
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tests → caution → contamination
A report to Tower Hamlets Council said the building’s ageing pipework has made reopening the centre “harder than expected”.
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reopening → say → centre
It also said Legionella has now been discovered in the centre’s cold water system too, “despite extensive treatment”.
asserted
Legionella → say → treatment
Additionally, some of the fixtures supporting “redundant” sections of pipework are made of cancer-causing asbestos, and have to be removed.
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some → support → asbestos
The report said: “York Hall is nearly 100 years old and has a complex water system, some of it original.
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some → say → it
There is no complete record of the pipework and some pipes cannot be traced.
asserted
pipes → be → pipework
“For these reasons, it is taking longer than expected to eradicate the Legionella.”
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it → take → Legionella
The document said York Hall’s closure could cost the council around £924,000 in lost income and repairs.
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closure → say → income
Work to remove the asbestos will continue until Friday November 6, councillors have been told.
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councillors → remove → Friday
Attention will then turn to the pipes, with work scheduled for between Monday 9 and Friday November.
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work → turn → Monday
Later in November, the water systems will have to be cleaned and disinfected, and three rounds of water sampling carried out towards the end of next month.
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rounds → have → month
The council said it expects test results back by December 11, potentially allowing York Hall to reopen in January.
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Hall → say → January
But that’s only if all three tests are clear, and the council receives independent confirmation that the water systems are safe.
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systems → ’ → confirmation
Speaking to councillors on Monday, one unnamed leisure service manager said: “We can’t provide a firm date.
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We → speak → date
He added: “We’re giving indicative dates and hoping we get to that stage with three clear results.
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we → add → results
But past results have come back positive and there is a possibility that that might not happen.”
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that → come → ?
Councillors questioned managers over the closure at a committee meeting held on the same day.
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Councillors → question → day
Green Party councillor Rupert George said the council had not been “upfront” with the public about why York Hall had closed.
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Hall → say → public
Mr George said: “An immediate notification of the public would have shown the council being in control, and that communication didn’t happen.”
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communication → say → control
Aspire Party councillor Halima Islam, who represents Bethnal Green East ward, also said communication about the discovery came late.
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communication → represent → discovery
She said there had been “many residents contacting us about York Hall”.
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She → say → Hall
Senior council manager David Joyce said that the council sent updates on the closure to members of York Hall.
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council → say → Hall
However, he added: “Not everyone is a member who uses York Hall and I think we could have been more proactive.
uncertain
we → add → Hall
I think you are right that we didn’t do well enough in this space.”
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we → think → space
The Aporia
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