ONE of the organisations that uses a council building in Hampshire plans to boycott the facility after raising fears over public safety.

New Forest District Council’s main debating chamber has only one exit – despite being on the first-floor of the authority’s headquarters at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst.

Now New Forest Consultative Panel, which represents organisations across the district, has decided to stop holding its bimonthly meetings in the chamber.

Panel officials claim it would take too long to evacuate the room in an emergency and have agreed to use the Lyndhurst Park Hotel instead.

Support officer David Stone said the hotel was cheaper as well as safer.

Lyndhurst Parish Council also meets at Appletree Court but uses one of the committee rooms on the ground floor.

Council spokesman David Atwill said: “A full risk assessment has been carried out for this particular part of council premises.

"Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has indicated that there is no undue risk to members of the public using this facility.”