Latest news with #cladding
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Worcester Barbourne Works lower-floor residents allowed home
A large number of residents forced to evacuate their apartment block over dangerous cladding and fire safety risk nearly two weeks ago are set to return people, including eight children, were told to leave the Barbourne Works in Worcester on 4 June, after fire inspectors raised a safety and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS), which placed the building under a prohibition notice, said it was now safe for the ground and first floors to be FirstPort, the building's management agent, said the second and third floors still did not meet the required standards for fire escape, and work was continuing. The evacuation took place after fire inspectors found problems that dated back to when the former factory was converted to flats 20 years ago. "[But] we are pleased to be able to welcome residents of the ground and first floors back home and we sincerely thank them for their patience and support over the last two weeks whilst we've works through this complex situation," a FirstPort spokesperson said. 'Risk was so severe' The firm had taken a central role in co-ordinating a response to the safety alert, which involved working with stakeholders including Homes England, the fire service, the building's freeholder and council. "Unfortunately, for residents of the second and third floors the prohibition notice remains in place, as these units currently do not meet the required standards for fire escape," the spokesperson added. Work is continuing to implement safety measures so the upper floors could be re-occupied "as soon as possible". Inspectors found dangers "so significant and the risk to residents was so severe" that the notice was issued and residents had to leave the 46 flats. Some residents told the BBC they were shocked, had "absolutely no warning" and had to quickly leave their homes. Forty-seven people went to stay with family and friends and 13 went to a rest centre before being put up in hotels, fire service group commander Simon Cusack said previously. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Times
I played football for Wales but the cladding scandal could bankrupt me
It was not until Brian Law received a £16,000 service charge demand for his buy-to-let that he realised the flat was wrapped in flammable cladding. The former Welsh international footballer bought the flat in the Islington Gates development in Birmingham in 2005, after injury put an end to his career at age 30. In 2020, he received a letter from Remus, the firm that manages the building, saying that it could cost thousands of pounds to fix the building's fire safety issues. It was then that he realised the asset that was supposed to help to fund his retirement had suddenly become a huge drain on his finances. Five years later and the cladding work has cost Law and his wife, Jennifer, £37,000, plus the costs associated with three failed sales. In February 2024, Law handed over the keys to his bank in a voluntary repossession, having seen his debts reach £82,000.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Some Barbourne Works residents able to return to evacuated flats
Some residents who were forced to evacuate their apartment block due to dangerous cladding have been allowed home, according to the building's managing 4 June, 60 people, including eight children, were told to leave Barbourne Works in Worcester after inspectors found dangerous fire safety Friday, bosses at FirstPort, which operates the building on behalf of a management company, said residents on the ground and first floors were being allowed to said a prohibition notice remained in place for residents on the second and third floors. A spokesperson for FirstPort said those homes on the upper floors did not currently meet required standards for fire escape."Work is under way to implement the necessary safety measures to enable safe reoccupation of these floors as soon as possible," they said."We fully recognise how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority."We remain committed to working closely with all parties to provide continued support and timely updates as we address the issues raised." Earlier this week, some residents told the BBC the events of the past week had left them struggling."I feel mentally exhausted, because every day you don't know where you are, what you're doing or what's going on," Anne Eason veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, were also evacuated and are being housed at a hotel in couple are due to get married next week but Mr Sherwin said the stress of the situation had overshadowed what should be a memorable time."We're getting married, but we don't know if we will be able to do any of the plans we wanted," he said there had been a comprehensive review of the external walls and an independent fire engineer's assessment carried out on the described the situation as "complex and evolving". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Evacuated Barbourne Works residents criticise lack of information
Residents forced to evacuate their apartment block over dangerous cladding said they still do not know when they will be allowed home, more than a week 4 June, 60 people, including eight children, were told to leave Barbourne Works in Worcester after inspectors found dangerous fire safety bookings are only for a couple of nights at a time and one resident, Anne Eason, said she did not know from one day to another where she would be staying.A spokesperson for the building's managing agents, FirstPort, said they recognised how disruptive it was for residents but their decision was taken with their safety in mind. Ms Eason said the events of the past week have left her struggling."I feel mentally exhausted because every day you don't know where you are, what you're doing or what's going on."I worry about my own mental health because I've been going to work and I've been there physically - but I'm totally distracted by what is going on."They don't give you any updates or email you after five o'clock but you can't ring up and speak to anybody about the content of it."Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service placed the building under a prohibition notice after an inspection found concerns dating back to when the former factory was converted 20 years ago." I'd like to see the government step in and not allow these organizations to treat us in such an inhumane way," Ms Eason added."We are people, we are human beings, yet we are not being treated as such." Army veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, were also evacuated and are being housed at a hotel in couple are due to get married next week but Mr Sherwin said the stress of the situation had overshadowed what should be a memorable time."Our stay has been extended for another day but they can't offer us the same hotel that we are in tomorrow so there is a chance we will be placed further afield - we don't know what is happening," he said."We're getting married but we don't know if we will be able to do any of the plans we wanted."He said since being evacuated, he has been back to collect belongings."I'm struggling with my mental health and the uncertainty is is crushing," Mr Sherwin added"The day-to-day, fighting, to know when you're going to get your next hotel, is exhausting."A spokesperson for the managing agent said they remained committed to working closely with everyone involved to provide "continued support and timely updates as we address the issues raised.""Our immediate focus has been to secure appropriate short-term accommodation for all affected residents," they added."Responsibility for ongoing and longer-term accommodation costs rests with the other parties."Specialist contractors are undertaking surveys this week, to better understand the building's structure." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Barbourne Works: Cladding-risk residents 'given 30 minutes' to evacuate
A woman living in a hotel because her apartment block was evacuated over dangerous cladding said she was given 30 minutes to leave her Eason was one of 60 residents told to leave Barbourne Works in Worcester on Wednesday after inspectors found dangers "so significant and the risk to residents was so severe" a prohibition notice was issued."I think the knock at my door was about half past eight and we were told we had to be out by nine," she said. "It was a bit heavy-handed. There were police there and you were told that the law said you had to move whether you liked it or not."Managing agents First Port said action was taken with residents' safety as the highest priority. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service placed the building under a prohibition notice after an inspection identified concerns dating back to when the former factory was converted 20 years the 60 people who had to leave the block, there were eight children, a heavily pregnant woman, a couple getting married next week, a man diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, and an army veteran with PTSD. Ms Eason said residents received a letter from First Port in October 2023 which said fire works had to be done and there had been application for a government grant for new cladding approved in she claimed nothing had been done since."Most of us understand that we can't live in a building that's unsafe but if they're saying it's been unsafe since it was converted, why has it taken 20-odd years for somebody to tell us it's unsafe?" she asked. Ms Eason, who has been in a budget hotel since Friday, said she could only stay until Thursday because First Port would only authorise a couple of days at a time."Thursday morning, I've got to check out, try and go to work, and not know when I come back from work where I'm supposed to be sleeping for the night," she said, adding people were struggling with their mental health and wellbeing as a were only being allowed back to their flats for 15-minute slots, she said."I haven't got cooking facilities, I've got no laundry facilities, I haven't even got a fridge." Ms Eason claimed recladding work originally booked for last year had been deferred twice and was now scheduled for January, to be completed by May or June."My understanding is there is a bit of a bunfight about who's going to pay for it, who's responsible," she added.A statement issued by First Port said: "We understand how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority."The firm said its immediate focus was on securing short-term accommodation for affected said: "At the same time, we are actively working on longer-term arrangements."The company said talks were continuing with stakeholders on next steps and specialist contractors were conducting surveys this week to better understand the structure of the statement said: "These assessments will help determine what safety measures are required to allow residents to return home and establish a clearer timeline."First Port does not own the building and is the managing agent appointed by the Resident Management Company (RMC) to act on their behalf. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
