Earlier this year, Salford Council made a decision to put families back in towerblocks, allowing parents with children under ten years old to rent high rise flats (see previous Salford Star article click here).
The new policy came into force just as new `Juliet' balconies were being installed in around half of the flats in Whitebeam Court in Pendleton, as part of Pendleton Together's makeover of the area.
A `Juliet balcony', doesn't actually have a balcony. It's usually just a piece of glass or wrought iron that goes across the window at waist height, allowing French windows to let in the light or to be opened to air a room.
Residents in Whitebeam are concerned, to say the least, that, with the new design and a step going up to the Juliet balconies, young children could accidentally climb over them...
"Salford Council made a decision to put children back into high rises, and since that decision was made the block has been refurbished so, in effect, we've changed the use of the flat and the design of the flat" says Jamie, Secretary of Whitebeam Community Association "We've got a balcony that comes up to a five year old's shoulders; we've got a step to help them climb over the balcony...now what could possibly go wrong?"
Jamie says that for six months he's been trying to get a decision from either Salford Council or Pendleton Together on whether the balconies are safe for children.
"Over many months and countless emails I've written to councillors, the MP, the directors of Keepmoat and Pendleton Together, just to get someone in authority to make a decision" he explains "Do we let children into a flat with full length doors and a little step to help them climb over the balcony, or do we not?
"All I want is for someone qualified and in authority to come in and say `Yes it is safe' or `No, it is not safe'" he adds "But, for the last six months we have been living in this limbo where nobody will make a decision."
Despite getting no response from local councillors, Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, did have a meeting with Pendleton Together directors, and Jamie says they told her that there were no children in the block and that a `full risk assessment was being carried out'.
So far, no results of any risk assessment have been shared with residents, and, despite Pendleton Together's apparent assurances that there were no children in the block, there are actually three under five year olds living in the flats, plus youngsters visiting relatives.
"They don't even know who's living in their own apartments, yet they are making decisions which could potentially kill a child" Jamie explains "They keep playing pass the parcel; nobody wants to take decisions because it will affect the way they can allocate property, which will affect their rent accounts - but it needs Salford City Council's chief safety officer to come down, take a look and make a decision `Yes' or `No'."
While managers have been pontificating for six months, no keys to the balcony doors have been released to tenants, although Jamie understands that some are taking matters into their own hands and removing locks. He is convinced that there is an incident waiting to happen...
"Thirty years ago decisions were made around here to stop putting children in high rises because they kept falling out now do we have to go through this again?" he asks "My prediction is that this year, next year, in ten year's time it will happen that a child goes over the balcony. I don't want to be stood down there waiting for a tiny coffin to come out of the block. I'm just one person here but shouldn't the Council and Pendleton Together be seeing this?"
*The Salford Star asked Pendleton Together for a comment but the company stated that it "will not be responding on this matter". Salford City Council hasn't responded to any Salford Star requests for comments for over two years (see here)
See also previous Salford Star articles...
Salford man sprayed with acid on Pendleton Together site click here
Rip Off Britain investigates Pendleton Together NIBE scandal click here
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