Canary Wharf health probe launched

A meeting last week between environmental health officers, the National Union of Journalists and the City & East London Health Authority resulted in a medical examination being launched into those suffering ill health in the Canary Wharf tower (CJ 14 May).

Canary Wharf Ltd did not attend the meeting about the allegations of the tower suffering from sick building syndrome.

The company reacted angrily to suggestions that there may be health problems at the tower.

Gerald Rothman, a director of Canary Wharf Ltd said: "There is not a shred of evidence to support any problem with the tower."

The company said it did not attend the meeting because that it did not believe it was "appropriate or proper to discuss the affairs of our tenants, mainly the Daily Telegraph".

Tests on the building are carried out by Canary Wharf Ltd and by the management of the various companies prior to being passed on to the Environmental Health Officers.

Nic Cicutti, representing National Union of Journalists' members in the tower, wants Canary Wharf Ltd to co-operate with an independent inquiry so that the company and union can stand together and say there is nothing wrong.

"The company seem so convinced that there is nothing wrong that we are dismissed as stupid," he said.

The NUJ is to go ahead with the questionnaire to its members regardless.

On the NUJ, Rothman said: "I don't know what they're up to but I don't particularly like them."