Back in 'balmy' November, one tenant who lives in the Plane Court block where dangerous cladding had been stripped from the outer walls told the Salford Star that conditions were shocking...
"It's really cold, absolutely freezing...it's like being in the north pole" she said, revealing that she was pregnant and sleeps under silver thermal blankets usually given to the homeless (see here).
Almost three months later, with winter seriously kicking in and snow on the ground, more residents have told of what it's like to live within bare concrete walls...
"It is quite bad compared to how it was before" said one "I'm quite young so I can take it but I live with elders and I don't they are taking it nicely. They just need to get it fixed and not leave us in the dark over everything that's being done. Heating bills have gone up."
Around a month ago, Pendleton Together, which manages the nine blocks owned by Salford City Council that had similar cladding to Grenfell, offered just a £20 'good will' payment to tenants in Plane Court, to 'cover' extra heating bills.
"It's colder than it was before and no way does that cover it!" said another resident, who is struggling to make the controversial NIBE system work and has turned it off completely... "When we have it on high, it just cuts out and then by the time it comes on it's cold."
A spokesperson from Pendleton Together told the Salford Star that "We have not received any complaints from residents at Plane Court in relation to cold. We have proactively contacted all residents in order to monitor energy use.
"Prior to Christmas, a good will payment of £20 was offered to all residents by Pendleton Together, which some have declined" the spokesperson added "We continue to be in regular contact with residents and will use monitoring data on energy use and costs to inform any other payments to support residents. The majority of residents have received a home visit and we are continuing to work with residents on a one to one basis."
Pendleton Together wouldn't give any timescale as to when the outer cladding will be replaced, explaining that the company would be writing to residents "shortly" with an update. Residents have now had a letter saying there will be appointment-only meetings in February to discuss cladding updates.
Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, there was a small fire in the bin shoot at Salix Court, another of the Pendleton blocks. Residents were evacuated but the Star understands that they were left out in the cold wearing just nightwear
"I went out into the garden and there were people stood in their dressing gowns and pyjamas - elderly, young, disabled - and the only community room Pendleton Together opened was in Malus Court which only holds around 25 people" recalls Graeme Langton, the suspended chair of Malus Tenants and Residents' Association "The other community rooms in Beech and Hornbeam were not unlocked.
"I noticed that were three members of Pendleton Together present but there didn't seem to be any order; they didn't appear to be following correct fire evacuation procedures which they themselves had put in place, which was to congregate outside Pendleton Gateway" he adds
"The tenants were stood within twenty metres of the block, in the cold, freezing, and Pendleton Together could have opened Brotherton House, instead of letting people sit on cold benches in the garden" he explains "Residents said that they didn't hear any air horns, just fire alarms and fire marshals banging on the doors."
Pendleton Together disputes this account..."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" says a spokesperson "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 adds "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."
As the controversial cladding issue continues to cause problems, still no-one has viewed the enigmatic Trident report (that isn't a report) which apparently details all the faults in all nine Pendleton blocks - despite months ago, Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, telling both the Salford Star and residents that the conclusions could be viewed...
"Trident carried out a series of surveys and work for us around the technical aspects of fire safety" says the Pendleton Together spokesperson "There is no Trident Report, Dossier or formal collation of these documents or recommendations. An offer of individual contact has been made to one resident in relation to a further discussion regarding this issue."
...Except that the resident concerned, believed to be Graeme Langton, says that he's had no contact from Pendleton Together regarding the matter.
See also previous Salford Star article – Fuel Poverty in Pendleton Blocks A Matter of National Concern – click here
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