A MAIN route through Colchester town centre was cordoned off for hours to protect the safety of the public after part of a building started to collapse.
Emergency services rushed to Head Street just before 9am yesterday where witnesses say a piece of concrete had fallen from a building on to the pavement below.
A cordon was immediately set up and Head Street was closed to all traffic.
Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to reach the roof and found there was damage to a concrete plinth.
The building in question, next to Walkabout bar, is home to several businesses, including EASI Hairdressing Academy on the upper floor.
Staff from the specialist training provider called the emergency services on Thursday morning.
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One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: “We arrived this morning and when we were sitting in the office we heard something fall down.
“We looked outside and a bit of concrete had fallen on to the pavement.
“We have not been able to allow anyone in and we are just waiting inside for updates.
“It was really fortunate. It just fell and everything developed from there.
“The initial bit of concrete wasn’t big but the parts which were unsafe could have caused someone some serious harm.”
Fatal Attraction Hair Design, located downstairs, was still able to welcome customers through the back door whilst the Odeon remained open for cinemagoers.
Colchester Council’s Building Control team were called to the scene to assess whether the structure was safe.
A spokesman said: “Following discussions with our building control team the building’s owner has arranged for scaffolding to be erected to protect members of the public from any potential issues and allow a fuller inspection of the building’s structure.”
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