PENSIONERS are sipping their cuppas at their pop-in parlour surrounded by ceiling supports.

The Welling pop-in parlour has serious structural problems which have plagued the building for more than a year.

The building is privately owned, but Bexley Council leases it and Age Bexley runs the parlour.

The parlour was closed briefly last year because of the problems, but ceiling supports and new ceiling tiles have been fitted so that the parlour could re-open.

Despite extensive efforts by the council and Age Concern, they have not been able to find any other suitable premises to use temporarily, while the building is still in a state of disrepair.

Falconwood Councillor Nigel Betts described the situation as “a disgraceful state of affairs” at a recent council meeting, and demanded to know when the building would be put right.

He said: “People are being put off using it because of the shoring up of the ceiling. This is not getting the priority it deserves.”

Cllr Ken McAndrew, chairman of social services, said despite the conditions there, the parlour was open to the public and was in a safe state.

He explained the owner had agreed to do the repairs but will have to make an application for building regulationsbefore putting the work out to tender and starting the repairs.

And there was no indication of when work might start.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the council's lease on the parlour runs out next month and Bexley is trying to renew it because there is nowhere else suitable for the parlour to go.