Rain pours in on another b-leak day for Holyrood

Published on Wednesday 21 July 2010 19:31

IT'S supposed to be known for leaks of a different kind.

The Holyrood guides tell tourists the black and white corridor outside the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber is where politicians traditionally talk to journalists.

It was another story yesterday, however, as the rain poured down and the buckets had to be put out - again - to catch the water coming in through the roof.

The corridor was like an obstacle course with three large wheelie bins, nine smaller bins and six wet floor notices dotted around, and the rain could be heard plopping as people passed.

There were also leaks in the stairwell of the media tower, the public staircase from the entrance foyer to the debating chamber and in an IT office in the Canongate building.

Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald said: "I was thinking of taking up aquaerobics. Now it looks as if I won't need to leave the parliament to do it."

Last year, it was revealed the parliament was spending almost 100,000 plugging leaks around the Holyrood complex.

The black and white corridor, which is topped with a roof of glazed panels, is one of the parliament's worst trouble spots for leaks.

On the day in 2007 when the then presiding officer George Reid announced "closure" of the Holyrood project - and the final price of 414 million - there were buckets out collecting drips as he spoke.

In July last year, a blocked downpipe was blamed for another leak when the corridor had to be covered with bins and cloths, and in April this year, the corridor was one of at least six different areas where water was getting in. Officials blamed "a suspected issue with a gasket" on that occasion.

Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes blamed the modern design of the parliament and said it was noticeable there were few if any leaks in Queensberry House, the historic mansion incorporated in the Holyrood complex.

"It has a proper pitched, tiled roof which is suitable for the Scottish weather, whereas the new building which cost all that money has lots of flat roofs and nooks and crannies and is leaking like a sieve.

"I always think it looks as if it was built for an airport in Majorca - and I'm sure it would be very good for that - but it's not very good for a parliament building in rainy Edinburgh."

A parliament spokesman said: "Following heavy rainfall overnight, a blocked drainpipe caused water to back up and leak into the black and white corridor. Three other minor leaks were reported."

He said no damage had resulted and the downpipe had now been unblocked.