AUDIO NEWS: 75% of builders worry about extreme weather and tradesman is refused entry due to workwear

75% of builders concerned about impact of extreme weather on site safety, government makes last minutes changes to planning bill and an electrician is refused entry because of his workwear

Three quarters of builders are concerned about the impact of climate change on site safety, claims a report from SafeSite Facilities.

Over half of the tradespeople surveyed said they’d worked at sites that had closed at least twice due to extreme weather.

Despite the impact of Storm Eowyn last year, 22% of builders still felt sites were unprepared for storms and high winds.

As winter approaches, Paul Goossens, operations director at SafeSite Facilities warned the “implications for construction sites of further major storms are obvious.”

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The government made last minute changes to its Planning & Infrastructure Bill this week to stop applications timing out.

Currently developers can find themselves forced to restart the planning process if they become delayed in the courts. The amendment will now mean stalled schemes will not have to return to square one.

Housing secretary Steve Reed said the bill would overhaul the stubborn planning system.

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A popular Belfast bar has sparked controversy online after refusing entry to an electrician due to his work clothes.

Graham, who owns an alarm company, was working in the city centre last Friday. After finishing work early, he and the team decided to visit the Dirty Onion beer garden.

Graham told the BBC’s The Nolan Show that “it definitely feels like a bit of a class thing.”

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