It's after 7:30pm and we're in Anthony Cain's flat on the first floor of Spruce Court. It's still light outside but darkness has descended inside as a cradle, or lift, carrying workmen down the outside walls of the block parks outside his window blotting out everything. The workmen get out of the lift and walk past his window, looking in en route.
Inside the flat you can feel the vibration of two outside generators still revving into the evening. On Anthony's table are a variety of pills that he's been taking to cope...
"The work started about nine months ago, and, as the cradle comes down it blocks all my daylight out, so I have had no daylight whatsoever for nine months" he says "I've also got both generators vibrating, going through my body. It's making me ill, mentally ill as well.
"They start at 7:30am and finish at 8:30pm, I'm on tablets and loads of medication" he explains "It's both the noise and the lack of daylight, it's sending me crazy. I was on the phone yesterday to them and they've not got back to me. I must have put about a hundred complaints in...They don't care about me. I've asked to move and not heard anything."
This is supposed to be a bright new dawn for the residents of Spruce Court, with the run down block having a major makeover as part of the massive £650million Pendleton Together PFI redevelopment. However, like the experience of the Whitebeam Court residents who spoke to Salford Star recently (see previous article click here), it's turning into a nightmare.
"My mum lives next door and we look after each other" Anthony says "She goes out every day, has to get out, you can't stay in your own flat. The workmen are always walking past your window, looking in. They've even put boards up in front of my window because I complain. I've had workmen tell me to `F*** off' to `Shut the f*** up' to `Get to f***'...
"They should have put people into hotels while this was going on, they've got the money to do it" he adds "It was brought up at meetings but they weren't listening. Everything that was brought up at meetings before this started has all gone, none of it was true."
Anthony, living on the first floor, will have to wait months for his own flat to be refurbished. But says he's not going to let Keepmoat in... "I don't want them anywhere near my home, listening to the stories from other people. They're supposed to be in your flat for 25 days. They've been in my mate's flat on the 21st floor for three months and it's still not finished."
One floor up from Anthony's mate's flat lives Ibrahim, who gives us a guided tour of his `finished' flat. There's gaping holes and cracks in the walls, a cupboard with no handles that doesn't close, a cable hanging with no apparent purpose, a cooker that only works on three rings since new cable was installed and a definite chill in the air. Ibrahim won't switch on his new `environmental system' as he says it cost him £100 in electricity for a few weeks when he first tried it...
"They said the new boiler came from Sweden and would be cheaper; absolutely not" he insists "This is double what I was paying before so I switched it off. They got upset and said `Don't turn it off, leave it on for eight hours, we'll pay you back'. No. It cost nearly £100 for two weeks. Now I leave it off because I can't afford to switch it on. I use a kettle when I have a shower."
Ibrahim's was the first flat refurbished at Spruce Court. Keepmoat started working on it on April 23rd. It was finished three and a half months later. And during that time, he says, it was hell...
"I didn't want to live there while they were doing it, there was air coming in through the windows, dust everywhere" he recalls "I had new carpet before they started and told them to cover it. They said `Okay'. They didn't and you can still see the dust on it. They never listen. I've told them I don't know how many times that I'm going to take them to court but they never listen. They promise me every time but never keep it."
After Ibrahim told them he was about to meet the Salford Star, a new carpet was promised. But the stories from other residents of Spruce Court keep on coming...
"There's an elderly guy called Kevin on our block and when he was having his flat done Pendleton Together were supposed to come and take him for respite but nobody turned up and he spent the day in the Precinct" says Katie "There was a case when someone's stuff, including their bike, was put on the bed while work was being done. When we tried to bring it up at a meeting, Keepmoat said it was just `talk'. I've seen the photos, it's real! Salford Council is also aware of the issues as we go to the Community Forum."
Indeed, Katie has set up a Facebook group for residents called Sort It Out Salford, as a kind of forum for anyone having problems with their blocks or houses being `made decent' via either Pendleton Together or Salix Homes. Featured at the moment on the site are more horror photos of Spruce Court.
On our guided tour of the block, Katie and Joe O'Malley point out dangerous wires and cables hanging down from ceilings in the lobbies, doors to the block left wide open by workmen, mess everywhere. People are literally holed up on a building site.
"I've been living in Spruce Court for quite some time, I've always been there for the block but I'm not happy with the work I've seen" says Joe, who explains how he lost pay and the opportunity of a lifetime by turning down work on the Commonwealth Games this summer, after Keepmoat changed the date of his flat's makeover.
"They said he should have left the key but you can't trust them to do the work with what they've done to everyone else's flat" Katie explains "You need to be there when they're doing the work because they're amateurs and don't seem to be doing things right."
Katie and Joe have got the joy to come of having their flat done, but in the meantime are helping other residents get through the turmoil.
"Every time you complain to the liaison officer it's `Have you phoned the number?' You report it but nothing gets done, it's a waste of time" says Joe "It's just too much pressure for everybody, we're feeling panicky and it's making us all ill."
Following the Salford Star feature on Pendleton Together's efforts at Whitebeam Court, we again contacted the company to get a reaction to residents' complaints. And, again, this evening Pendleton Together apologised. The full statement reads...
"As we have previously said, we recognise that there can be difficulties and disruption when working in 1960s concrete blocks. The team is working in extremely confined spaces and have encountered unforeseen refurbishment problems which only came to light once the work started. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a delay in the work being completed and additional disruption for residents. We would like to apologise to residents for any disruption this may have caused.
"The whole refurbishment programme is carefully managed as is all the work carried out on site. We have worked closely with residents to minimise disruption and they have been extremely patient throughout. We have helped residents by providing access to respite facilities and storage for their property.
"To deal with issues raised by residents in another part of the refurbishment programme, we have now put in place additional measures which will also benefit residents living in Spruce Court. The measures include increasing the number of respite facilities, more block cleaning, working with residents and their representatives more closely and providing additional support for those in difficult circumstances relating to lack of finance or specific personal needs. We have increased the size of the team we have on site to assist with these measures.
"A number of properties have been made available for people who for health or other reasons, would need to move out of their home in order for the improvement works to take place. Before starting work in anyone's home, we undertake a survey of their needs and requirements and are then able to make the best decision with the resident on a way forward. Although these requests for alternative accommodation are limited, we are increasing the number of empty homes that are available for this use.
"We have also put an emergency compensation scheme in place for immediate payment to residents if they have suffered any difficulties due to loss of access to cooking facilities, heating and water.
"Residents have welcomed the new measures we have put in place and we know they are starting to benefit from the action we have taken. We would urge any residents with any issues about the refurbishment programme to get in touch with us immediately, so we can resolve the matter. We have offered respite to several residents in Spruce Court and we are also visiting residents who have raised issues."
• Following the previous Salford Star article on Whitebeam Court, a resident wrote to us yesterday stating that there have been improvements...
"Thanks to the publicity you have given it, things are now starting to change from Pendleton Together, not Keepmoat. There is now in place a large fund for anyone with heat or eat problems, no one goes hungry or cold because of the refurbishment this winter, thanks to your paper. A decant process for those that need it, not just want it, is also now in place from Pendleton Together."
* Today, Pendleton Together launched its new community building, called Brotherton, in the old Broadwalk Library opposite Salford Precinct. Local residents will be able to access housing and credit union services, as well as community meeting rooms and respite facilities for use while their homes are being refurbished. Opening times are 8.30am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 8.30am to 6.30pm on Wednesday and 10am to 5pm on Thursday.
** Update 12th September - Keepmoat offers residents just £1 for loss of bath and £2 for loss of cooking facilities - click here
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