Four floors of UK Department of Energy closed due to insects

Four floors of the UK’s energy and climate change department were shut to staff on July 7 in a bid to battle an insect infestation, Report informs referring to Politico.

A message to staff confirms that unspecified “insects” were spotted this week on the second, third, fourth and fifth floors of 1 Victoria Street, home to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The site is also the workplace for some officials from the business and trade department.

In an ‘important update on the steps being taken to manage the situation,’ the department's estates team says it received ‘a couple of reports from colleagues of insects on 4th floor’ earlier this week.

But, despite a ‘deep clean,’ followed by a ‘specialist clean’ and the placing of ‘monitoring devices,’ the battle inside 1 Victoria Street continues.

The note said ‘further sightings of insects have been reported in some areas on floors 2, 3, 4, and 5,’ meaning the floors will now be closed July 7 ‘for thorough cleaning and treatment.’

Meeting room bookings have been cancelled, and access to the offending floors is restricted.

The team promises ‘comprehensive treatment and deep cleaning to ensure a pest-free environment’ as it tries to restore order by Monday - but warns that ‘any food left in open areas will be disposed of.’