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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bullring stays shut in fume alert | Bullring stays shut in fume alert |
| (2 days later) | |
| Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre remains shut to bank holiday weekend shoppers after a chemical incident affected more than 30 people. | Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre remains shut to bank holiday weekend shoppers after a chemical incident affected more than 30 people. |
| The centre has been shut for two days, but managers say they are working to try to reopen later on Saturday. | The centre has been shut for two days, but managers say they are working to try to reopen later on Saturday. |
| It was evacuated on Thursday after shoppers and staff reported symptoms including minor respiratory problems. | It was evacuated on Thursday after shoppers and staff reported symptoms including minor respiratory problems. |
| Bullring managers said they were "continuing to work with the police to investigate the incident". | Bullring managers said they were "continuing to work with the police to investigate the incident". |
| Internal checks | Internal checks |
| Tim Walley, Bullring general manager, said: "The investigation has been ongoing throughout the night and we hope to have the issue resolved soon. | Tim Walley, Bullring general manager, said: "The investigation has been ongoing throughout the night and we hope to have the issue resolved soon. |
| "We are working towards Bullring reopening today, but our priority continues to be staff and visitors to Bullring. | "We are working towards Bullring reopening today, but our priority continues to be staff and visitors to Bullring. |
| "The centre will open when all internal checks have been completed and we are assured the centre is in a position to welcome back staff and visitors. " | "The centre will open when all internal checks have been completed and we are assured the centre is in a position to welcome back staff and visitors. " |
| Staff at the centre who turned up for work on Saturday were reportedly sitting outside in the sunshine waiting to be told what was happening. | Staff at the centre who turned up for work on Saturday were reportedly sitting outside in the sunshine waiting to be told what was happening. |
| The Bullring provides over 110,000 sq m (1.2m sq ft) of retail space with more than 160 shops and kiosks inside. | The Bullring provides over 110,000 sq m (1.2m sq ft) of retail space with more than 160 shops and kiosks inside. |
| When it opened in 2003, 8,000 jobs were created. | When it opened in 2003, 8,000 jobs were created. |
| Staff 'told nothing' about Bullring closure | Staff 'told nothing' about Bullring closure |
| Professor Isabelle Szmigin of Birmingham University, said the uncertainty was damaging the centre. | |
| "It is this feeling of uncertainty and not knowing that is damaging them," she said. | "It is this feeling of uncertainty and not knowing that is damaging them," she said. |
| "It would be much better to give regular updates even if the updates were saying sorry, we do not know what is happening." | "It would be much better to give regular updates even if the updates were saying sorry, we do not know what is happening." |
| She added the smaller businesses, such as the kiosks and independent traders, could be badly hit. | She added the smaller businesses, such as the kiosks and independent traders, could be badly hit. |
| John Lamb from Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce, said the closure could lead to large financial losses for the shopping centre. | John Lamb from Birmingham's Chamber of Commerce, said the closure could lead to large financial losses for the shopping centre. |
| "Clearly, it will cost tens of thousands of pounds in lost trade if it remains closed," he said. | "Clearly, it will cost tens of thousands of pounds in lost trade if it remains closed," he said. |
| West Midlands Police said the cause was a suspected petro-chemical-based contamination, possibly in the centre's ventilation or air conditioning systems. | West Midlands Police said the cause was a suspected petro-chemical-based contamination, possibly in the centre's ventilation or air conditioning systems. |
| They also said they did not know if it was the result of an accident or malicious act. | They also said they did not know if it was the result of an accident or malicious act. |
| The centre closed on Thursday, reopened briefly on Friday, but was evacuated again after some members of staff staff reported shortness of breath and nausea. | The centre closed on Thursday, reopened briefly on Friday, but was evacuated again after some members of staff staff reported shortness of breath and nausea. |