Work starts on new roof at East Lancashire Hospice (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Work starts on new roof at East Lancashire Hospice

1:30pm Tuesday 3rd April 2012 in Raise The Roof East Lancs Hospice Appeal By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

here we go Sharon Crymble from the hospice with site manager Chris Worswick

WORK has started on a new roof at the East Lancashire Hospice – paid for by Lancashire Telegraph readers.

A total of £125,000 was raised for the much-needed renovation as part of the Raise the Roof campaign.

Bosses at the site in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, said the dilapidation had become so bad that some rooms had been closed because of leaks.

Chris Worswick, site manager for J&C Devlin, said: “The concrete tiles we are taking off are past their best. They were meant to have a shelf life of 25 years, but have been up for 28, and you can tell – there are leaks all over.

“We’re working in eight phases, stripping, rebattoning and recovering each area, and then moving on to another.

“This is for the benefit of the hospice, because we don’t want to be uncovering a section that they need to use.

“Builders are using natural slate instead of concrete tiles, which have a life of more than 75 years. They are also replacing perished felt underneath with a high-quality, breathable alternative.”

In the attic space, workers are putting in new layer of insulation that is double the thickness of the original, meaning heating bills will be slashed.

Chris said: “We hope to be completed by the end of June or first week of July.

“It is weather-dependant, though. Any rain means we will have to stop and start, so there are no leaks in the building.”

Sharon Crymble, fundraiser for the East Lancashire Hospice, said: “We’re thrilled to see the work starting, and know it wouldn’t have got to this stage without the support of Lancashire Telegraph readers.

“Although we have raised an amazing £125,000 for the roof, we also need to raise £3million every year to keep the hospice open.”