Council garages need £1.2m of urgent repairs

A local authority is facing a £1.2m repair bill after identifying safety defects with nearly 250 council-owned garages.

A South Kesteven District Council survey of 854 garages across 97 sites found a range of problems, including failed garage doors, a partial roof collapse in Grantham and a wall and roof collapse at a garage in Stamford.

Officers said a total of 242 of the garages were ranked as "red" – meaning urgent action was required.

The repair cost of £1.2m, recommended by officers, compares with £1.54m for demolition and more than £6.6m for a like-for-like rebuild.

Speaking at a scrutiny committee meeting on Monday, housing portfolio holder Virginia Morgan said many of the garages were ageing, expensive to maintain and, in some cases, too small for modern vehicles.

The review also identified 12 garage sites with potential for alternative uses, including housing, although no decisions have been made.

Housing director Alison Hall-Wright said there was demand for garage rentals across the district, but stressed the need to balance repair costs against the income generated.

The council currently charges £15 a week to rent a garage, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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