The developers of London’s Walkie Talkie are carrying out investigations after the skyscraper was blamed for causing damage to cars parked in the street below.
Last week it was reported that sunlight reflected from the building was creating intense heat and dazzling passers-by. Now it has emerged that parking bays underneath the Fenchurch Street tower, which is currently under construction, have been suspended after parts of a Jaguar car melted in the glare.
Company director Martin Lindsay parked his Jaguar XJ on Eastcheap last Thursday afternoon. When he returned after an hour he found that the panels of the vehicle, along with a wing mirror and the Jaguar badge, had melted. On the windscreen was a note from the construction company saying “your car’s buckled, could you give us a call?”
Mr Lindsay told City A.M; “They’re going to have to think of something. I’m gutted. How can they let this continue?”
Similar damage also occurred to a Vauxhall Vevaro. Owner Eddie Cannon said; “The van looks a total mess. Every bit of plastic on the left hand side and everything on the dashboard has melted, including a bottle of Lucozade that looks like it has been baked.
“When I got in the van it was a really strange light – like it was illuminated and they were filming.”
Others who have experienced the phenomenon describe it as being an uncomfortable magnifying beam and have expressed fears that it could impair the vision of motorists.
Now joint developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group have issued a statement saying they are looking into the matter and that the affected parking bays have been closed as a precaution.
“The developers are on the site. It’s their priority to find out more and see what kind of solution can be put into place,” a spokesman explained.
The so-called “solar death ray” is believed to be caused by the current position of the sun in the sky and lasts for about two hours a day. As autumn approaches, the problem will abate giving the developers time to resolve the issue.
The Walkie Talkie is currently 50 per cent pre-let and is due to be completed next year.
