Shopping centre to stay shut after fire risk check
A shopping centre in Birmingham that closed suddenly on Tuesday is to remain shut, managers have said, after a fire risk assessment.
Businesses at The Square, on Priory Queensway, told the BBC on Thursday morning that they were still unclear why they had been forced to close their doors.
In a statement, Priory Square said health and safety checks had been carried out, including an assessment of fire risk, and following an initial recommendation the site would remain shut.
It said it expected a further update early next week. The BBC has approached the fire service for a response.
The Square hosts more than 30 businesses, including shops, pubs and restaurants.
Iftikhar Hussain, whose uncle owns a store, said businesses had not been informed why the centre had shut.
"They just told us it was going to be closed until further notice," he said.
"It could be a week, two weeks, and they haven't told us anything."
He added that the decision meant the shop was losing a lot of money.
Other traders posted notices from the Priory Square management team in windows as they left the site.
One letter in the window of a beauty salon, which stayed open after moving elsewhere, said health and safety checks could not take place while units were occupied.
A booking system was set up for business owners to access units to collect personal belongings and perishable goods.
The service yard was also closed, with traders asked to cancel deliveries.
West Midlands Fire Service said there was an apparently unconnected incident at a hotel in Priory Queensway on Tuesday, but at this stage it is not known whether events at the two sites were linked.
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