"We residents are left to live in fear and constant paranoia about our safety..."
Yesterday, the Salford Star reported that the nine blocks in Pendleton owned by Salford City Council and managed by Pendleton Together had again failed Government fire safety tests - this time on the cladding and insulation system used (see here).
Deputy Mayor and newly appointed 'fire tsar', John Merry, was quoted in a Council press release saying; "We are focusing on doing what it takes to make the buildings safe and decisive steps have been taken to progress a permanent solution.
"Residents need and deserve this reassurance" he added "We are fully committed to ensuring that our buildings meet the highest standards, continuing the commitment to develop a vibrant, attractive neighbourhood."
On the same day this was issued, tenants in Thorn Court, one of the two highest tower blocks affected, posted their own comments on the Thorn and Pendleton Blog News. These tenants tell a different story to that being propagated by Salford Council, Pendleton Together (PT), Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and his Deputy, John Merry...
Dawn, who has lived in Thorn for over twenty years, sums up the feelings..."We have old people here, and they want to be reassured and feel safe, and at this moment in time I don't think anybody feels safe in this tower block."
Dawn has asked why fire extinguishers could not be put on the higher floors of the block, but, so far, has not received an answer to this and other questions about fire safety.
Edward, 68, has lived in Thorn for 19 years and says: "The block is unsafe and we are not getting the truth, we don't know what's going on from one day to the other.
"The information that has been given out by Pendleton Together has not helped me at all, it's confusing, and in some cases one letter contradicted the previous one" he adds "I don't feel at all safe in my flat now, and this is the fist time in 19 years I have felt like this."
While work on putting up concrete boards to cover the fire safety-failed insulation has started on the low rise blocks, the Pendleton Blog reports that there are three wheelchair users in Thorn Court on the 20th floor and at least one on the 19th floor, and residents are urging priority for the two skyscrapers...
"We were told that fire alarms would be put on all floors, that was two weeks ago but so far we have seen nothing happening" says Edward "Maybe they are starting on the low rise first, I just don't understand the thinking behind this when it's the high rise blocks that should be removed first."
Simon is a partially disabled person who lives on the 22nd floor, and argues that Pendleton Together's assertion that 'Where we are aware that a resident has a vulnerability, we are working with them to develop a plan in the case of a fire', "doesn't ring entirely true...
"Whilst PT should now have me listed as a vulnerable resident, the only 'plan' that I'm aware of consists of staying put and awaiting rescue whilst all hell breaks loose around me" he says "How I can be realistically expected to do that and what guise this rescue is to take, I do not know. I can't say I'm filled with confidence in this as any sort of 'plan'!
"Similarly" he adds "Mayor Paul Dennett's statement on 07/07/17 that: 'Work is continuing to progress the removal of the panels at the Pendleton tower blocks in a safe and timely manner' flies in the face of what most people would consider 'timely'...
"Work commenced on Thorn Court on 24/06/17 and now, nearly a month later, removal of panels has yet to be completed on the 1st floor" he explains "I would ask Mr Dennett whether his views on immediate removal being the 'right and moral thing to do' still hold? And if so, why is progress at a standstill?
"It's either 'right and moral' or it isn't because SCC [Salford City Council] don't have the funds?" he asks "I fully appreciate the massive strains faced by councils already starved of funding by central Government, but surely you can't put a price on people's lives? Whilst SCC debates the answer to this question, we residents are left to live in fear and constant paranoia about our safety.
"I believe the whole situation has also raised further fire safety questions that needed to be addressed prior to Grenfell, but that are only now being considered" Simon explains "These include things such as service risers, electrical conduit risers, fire doors, voids, and the vents added as part of the refurbishment (that pass through vent holes in the cladding, insulation and into the flats interior and covered only by a bit of plastic). These are in addition seemingly long overdue reviews of fire safety/evacuation procedures."
Jon, 72, has lived in Thorn for 19 years, and tells the Blog that he pointed out a number of fire safety issues to Pendleton Together staff and a fireman who visted his flat. One of the issues, in common with many people who live in these blocks, was a gap under the fire door. The fireman told the Pendelton Together rep that the door needed replacing. But nothing has happened yet.
He was told that Pendleton Together were looking into the possibility of sprinklers, and that fire alarms were going to be fitted starting next week. Jon asked if the alarms were being fitted on all the floors and was told a reply would be forthcoming shortly... "That was a week ago and nothing has been fitted" he says.
Many residents said that they would leave the block if they could, a sentiment expressed by Councillor Bill Hinds at the full Council meeting last week when he said tenants would start "voting with their feet" (see previous salford Star article - click here)...
"For my husband and I this is not a viable option in the slightest, as whilst I'm currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumour, he suffers with a severe mental health problem" says one resident "Where would they re-house us anyway? How could we afford this? We are therefore left stuck between the proverbial 'rock and a hard place'...
"Many residents feel they are now in limbo, and some who have purchased their property or are in the process of purchasing, just fear their insurance is going to hit the roof or they are not going to be able to get insurance if they live in one of the blocks affected" she adds "Residents who have home contents insurance are now wondering if their insurance is valid as circumstances have now changed."
Edward also sums up the feelings. Agreeing that he feels trapped in Thorn Court, he was asked if he would move if offered alternative accommodation..."I would if I could afford it, but like many other residents I don't have the money to move."
Roger says he doesn't feel safe living in the block but was another who would not leave... "I have spent a lot of money and time doing the flat up to make it a home".
What they would prefer is for someone to sort out the safety issues - and in the meantime reduce the rent to compensate for disruption, having already survived two years of refurbishment hell recently (see previous Salford Star articles - click here and follow links)...
"They should definitely be looking at paying some form of compensation, we have all been living in a building site for the last two years, and now it looks like we are all going to have to go through this again" says Edward "How would they or the Council like to come and live in a building site for two years and then have to go through it again just as we have our homes back in some kind of order."
Shaun agrees: "They need to pay everyone compensation and start telling people what's really happening" he says. But the problems go deeper than the present...
"I've been here eight years now and I remember the day I got my keys and the housing told me how happy I would be here" he recalls "Two years of hell we have gone through with the refurbishment, I even had to move out while they did mine.
"It's sent me into depression with the noise, I didn't sleep much at all" he explains "Had people staring through the windows with no privacy...All our blinds are fitted wrong so the windows don't even open...Still got draughts coming through the windows, even leak in heavy rain so much for weather proof...
"We decorated our home and soon as we finished I woke up to a flooded apartment as they had not fitted someone's heating right" he adds "Nothing was even done about it; ruined my sofa and had to throw it out. Still now there's all mould still coming through for it...Recently decorated again hoping it would cover and still it all comes through again...The lift down button on our floor doesn't work either...It's all just a big botched mess.
"I think a watchdog should be involved to be honest as I feel it's just a company that is only interested in money" he insists "Don't feel safe at all since knowing we're covered in flammable material. Don't even think I'm gonna cope second time around with more drilling that could last months maybe even a year. Been paying rent all these years and for what? A shit home. They should have just left it as it was and done just the windows and interior...
"No matter what people are saying, they are not listening because we are just people" he chillingly concludes, with echoes of the community around Grenfell Tower...
The Salford Star thanks the Thorn and Pendleton Blog News for this contribution. To read more see the Blog - click here
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