There are many safety issues being raised by residents of the nine Pendleton blocks owned by Salford City Council and managed by Pendleton Together. But certainly the most high profile issue is that of the Grenfell-style cladding that is still partly wrapped around all of the blocks, bar one.
Hand in hand with the cladding danger is the fire evacuation procedures, should anything unimaginable happen. A few weeks ago, there was indeed a small fire in a bin room at Salix Court which necessitated the evacuation of all residents but at least one person was left behind as tenants gathered outside.
Danny, who lives on the ground floor of the block, has physical disabilities, brain damage and a hearing impairment, which meant that he couldn't hear the alarms going off.
"My disabilities, which the housing company know about, mean that I have to sleep for long periods during the day and at night, which they are also aware of" he tells the Salford Star.
"I have been subsequently told that the fire started around 5pm, and I awoke at 6.05pm as lights were coming through the blinds in my bedroom" he adds "At first I thought would ignore them but I looked out to see the fire engines and all my neighbours were there. I was the only person left in the block. I walked out looking like a total idiot in my pyjamas and a guy in a high-vis jacket said 'You can't go back'. It was freezing.
"I couldn't hear the alarms nor the claxon, and I didn't hear it" he explains "I have no flashing lights in my flat instead of alarms either. I have talked to the housing company about it but nothing ever came of it."
Last week, the Salford Star carried an article about the perceived lack of evacuation procedures being followed* and at that time, Pendleton Together provided the following statement...
..."Despite some erroneous rumours we are able to confirm that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service provided feedback that confirmed that the evacuation procedure had worked well in line with the policies in place" a spokesperson said "Two respite locations were opened and offered to residents, many of whom took up this offer.
"In the two working days following the evacuation all residents received a letter and an individual visit, with those who were not available on two occasions receiving a letter" the spokesperson added "They were given reassurance, asked to provide feedback on the evacuation and given a channel to air any concerns, at the time or in the future. The feedback was overwhelmingly complimentary of the fire marshals and the evacuation procedure. We are in the process of writing an update to residents of all blocks which will remind people of the procedures in place."
Since then, Pendleton Together has posted a statement on its website** that "Fire marshals successfully carried out an evacuation of Salix Court", although the company included feedback from 44 residents it had visited, which included..."I didn't hear the fire alarms"..."I didn't hear the fire marshal claxons"... "No one knocked on my door"...
Meanwhile, Danny is just counting his blessings that the fire wasn't more serious.
**For Pendleton Together's responses see the website post click here
See also previous related Salford Star articles...
Residents Left out In Cold During Pendleton Fire click here
Semantics Keep Salford Residents In Dark Over Council Block Safety click here
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