Masterprint chasing compensation without proper restrooms

Alan Duffy, owner of design and printing company Masterprint, has rented the Catapult Centre, owned by St Helens Council, on the corner of Haydock Street and Bickerstaffe Street since 1993.

For the most part during the time that Alan was a tenant all issues were resolved quickly, but more recently Masterprint’s staff have had no electricity and therefore no light, hot water or hand dryer in their communal toilets for more than 18 months.

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Employees and cleaners had to use headlamps to use the toilet facilities at Masterprint (Image: Alan Duffy)

Having raised the issue with council since July 2021, Alan said the power issues were only resolved in recent weeks after the main fuses in Scottish Power’s common area were reinstalled.

Alan, who employs four people, said: “They couldn’t make it up to them […] The council must have known about it [as it’s their property] and it wasn’t an inexplicable electrical fault.

“For 18 months our staff and cleaners used headlamps to use the toilet whilst others preferred to find other toilets elsewhere such as at the Hardshaw Centre.

“It was tough and I lost credibility with the staff because nothing was being done.”

The ceiling also collapsed in the unit above Alan’s shop, caused by the January cold snap (Image: Alan Duffy)

When asked about the problems at Masterprint, St Helens Council said they are aware of the power supply issues and that “every effort is being made [was] work is underway to resolve this long-standing problem with the utility.”

The council indicated that alternative facilities were being made available at the catapult center and apologized for the long time it took to resolve the issues

While the power issues have come to a long-delayed resolution, Alan expressed frustration at the significant delays in repair work.

The catapult center parking lot is used constantly by non-residents, Alan said (Image: Alan Duffy)

The 58-year-old also said it took months for the council to arrange for a regular cleaner to look after the property, while a recent water leak resulted in a partial ceiling collapse in the unit above Masterprint.

Improper parking off-site has also been a problem, the business owner said, as employees often don’t have a place to park.

After the toilet facilities were without power for so long, the Masterprint owner said he is now negotiating with the community for compensation.

Masterprint has been a tenant of St Helens Council since 1993 (Image: Alan Duffy)