A FURIOUS protest has broken out at a “rotten” tower block where hundreds were kicked out – and with no idea when they can go home.
Families forced from their homes have staged a protest at a lack of help from Bristol council chiefs after being warned of safety dangers.
LNPCops were called amid fears possessions were being taken from Barton House flats[/caption]
LNPProtesters staged a demo outside Bristol City Hall about residents’ treatment[/caption]
Cover ImagesHundreds have been evacuated from 1950s Barton House over safety fears[/caption]
Angry residents abruptly evicted overnight from “unsafe” Barton House have now staged a demo at Bristol City Hall – and also mounted protests at the tower block too.
They accused the local authority of failing to properly communicate with them over why they were forced out and what happens next.
About 400 people living in the tower were told to pack a bag of clothes and leave on Tuesday evening.
Surveys conducted on three of the 98 flats had discovered a risk to the structure of the block in the event of a “fire, explosion or large impact”.
The tenants, including about 100 children, were instructed to stay away to allow more investigations to be carried out.
But three days on, many have now complained about being left in the dark about why they had to leave and future action.
They also criticised conditions at their temporary hotel accommodation.
Today’s protest suddenly ended amid rumours that council officers were removing possessions from people’s Barton House homes – with families rushing back to try to intervene.
Cops were called to settle tensions before Bristol City Council said rumours of widespread removal of possessions were false.
Barton House resident Shaban Ali, 36, said of being forced to leave on Tuesday: “We were completely left in the dark – I didn’t have a clue.
“The group chat started coming alive and rumours were flying all over the place about evacuations happening – there was a complete vacuum of information.
“Then I looked out and saw loads of people in high vis, officials from the council, fire wardens, just running around unco-ordinated. There was no plan, no communication.
“Some people got knocks on their door, others didn’t. It was absolute chaos and pandemonium in there – people screaming, crying.
“A lot of elderly people, a lot of vulnerable people with very young children – I have two children myself and I didn’t know where I was going to do.
“I waited till 1am and didn’t hear anything about where to go and stay so I went to a friend’s.”
The whole evacuation and aftermath was not good enough – no one is taking responsibility
Bristol resident Abdihakim Asir
Residents received emails from the council on Tuesday evening explaining the building was being evacuated due to safety concerns.
The council has also promised residents an update on Monday.
Yasmin, 30, who lives with her mother and one-year-old son at Barton House, is among those being temporarily accommodated in a hotel.
She said: “We’ve been in that block for over 20 years.
“My mum’s a vulnerable person, I’m epileptic. Yesterday I had a seizure at the hotel.
“When I have a seizure I don’t know what I’m doing I can be aggressive, violent, I can wee. Anything could have happened to me.
“Our hotel room is damp on the floor, soaking wet, dirty.”
Abdihakim Asir, a neighbour to Barton House, said of Tuesday night: “I was there until midnight.
“People were still sitting waiting, not able to get a hotel – there were one-week-old babies still there at that time.
“The whole evacuation and aftermath was not good enough. No one is taking responsibility.
“They are just leaving people to their own devices and expecting them to solve the problem.
“I know many people in that building who are struggling now in many ways – not everyone is in a hotel, many people are staying with friends.”
Another Barton House resident Yousif Ahmed, a 38-year-old dad-of-three, said: “It has been very stressful. We were told it’s not safe – I’ve got three kids, we were in danger.
“We were told to go to the community centre but we went and it was full so my family had to separate.”
Protestors from the tower block and local residents’ campaign group Acorn today held placards with the names of councillors who hadn’t attended the rally, amid frequent calls of “shame on you”.
SAFETY SURVEY ‘AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’
Demands being made include an independent investigation into what happened at Barton House and the safety of tower blocks across the city.
They also called for a rehousing plan, reimbursement of November rent, compensation for residents for costs from the evacuation and mental health support for residents as well as childcare.
Two councillors assured people there they would receive clear communication, while urging residents to contact them for help.
Councillor Jenny Bartle said: “Basically there’s been a miscommunication – some furniture apparently has been removed and Acorn was having a protest.
“They were informed and now there’s panic.”
Bristol City Council said: “We understand rumours are circulating that officers are removing possessions from flats.
“To clarify, we are speaking to three tenants about the need to empty their properties to conduct new surveys on the building structure that we have talked about in previous updates.
“Those three households have kindly agreed to have their possessions put safely into storage ad this will begin shortly.
“No possessions will be removed from other flats. If any further surveys are needed in other flats, we will contact those tenants and ask for permission.”
The council has also said: “The length of this temporary arrangement is dependent on a further survey of the building, which is being arranged to happen as soon as possible.
“All tenants will be kept regularly informed of progress and any updates on support arrangements.”
Officials have blamed blamed flaws in the building’s construction in 1958.
Among those kicked out of his flat at Barton House is a man who says the “rotten” property had been leaking for months.
Another resident, living on the tower’s eighth floor, insisted he would not be moving.
LNPHousing campaigners have called for an independent investigation[/caption]
Cover ImagesDemos have also been held at Barton House itself[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
