Diagram showing how the roof will be fixed Enlarge Image

A report has confirmed that the roof is stable and that it is safe to access the chamber to carry out the initial work to fix a broken beam.

Engineers plan to secure the beams with temporary straps, with the work being completed by mid-May.

Further work will be carried out over the summer months to install new components around the bolts.

The chamber has been closed since a beam swung loose earlier this month.

Two weeks ago we established what went wrong in the chamber, today we know how to fix it George Reid Presiding Officer

The findings by structural engineers Arup mean work will be able to progress at an "advanced pace" because only a lightweight scaffold is required.

Scottish Parliament staff are now working in partnership with scaffolding firm Lyndon Scaffolding Plc to draw up detailed plans to access the chamber.

The latest report by Arup will be subject to scrutiny by the parliament's independent structural engineering consultants Atkins, as well as the Health and Safety Executive.

A timetable of the works involved and key dates will then be made available.

Bracket strapping

Presiding Officer George Reid said: "Two weeks ago we established what went wrong in the chamber, today we know how to fix it."

Phillip Dilley of Arup Europe said: "We have been seeking a solution which enables the roof to be made safe, totally safe, so that people get in to access it and do further investigations and make the permanent repairs."

He explained straps would be put round the full length of the 15 beams in the roof which bear tension.

Strapping will also be put round the metal brackets of all the 64 beams as an additional safety precaution.

Mr Dilley said: "Right now we don't know exactly what condition the bolts are in the roof.

Mr Reid said the scaffolding for the temporary repair would cost "somewhere in the region of �60,000".