Dear colleagues
A quick update from me as we head into the weekend.
As if life wasn’t busy enough for everybody, the situation over the last week with regards to Middleton Arena has presented a massive additional challenge.
The fire at Storage World thankfully didn’t involve any injuries, but the loss experienced by so many people is tragic, and the devastation at the site is awful to see. This is primarily why we remain closed. The cordon on Old Hall Street is vital for health and safety reasons, and until some of the debris is removed, will have to remain in place.
However, there is some good news. As of tomorrow, Storage World will commence a clearance operation at the corner and front elevation of the building closest to the Arena. Their aim is to remove customer goods and debris, allowing the cordon to be moved back and the road opened again. By Monday we should have a clearer view of a re-opening timeline.
I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone for what they have done this week. Our teams have gone above and beyond to make sure that customers are kept informed, that the building is safe, and that all the parties involved in getting the Arena back open are aware of their responsibilities. We realise that there have been a couple of knock-on incidents at other sites with disgruntled customers, but for the most part, due to your immense efforts, the vast majority of customers have been supportive.
It truly has been amazing to see the level of goodwill, cooperation and team-work. Everyone, from the Arena teams to the operations leads, HR, Finance and Marketing has pulled together. The Board has also asked me to convey their thanks for what you have done this week.
It’s been a stressful few days, and we are not out of the woods yet, but I do hope that everyone can have some time to relax and unwind this weekend.
Best wishes and thanks once again.
Estelle