Falling glass fears after window breaks at tower
INCIDENT ON FIFTH FLOOR COMES AFTER PANE TUMBLED 200FT TO GROUND LAST YEAR
AN investigation has been launched after a window smashed in a fifthfloor city centre apartment – months after a pane of glass tumbled more than 200ft to the ground from the same tower.
Residents told of their shock after hearing a ‘loud bang’ and seeing the glass crack in a fifth floor flat at Islington Wharf on Great Ancoats Street.
In August last year, glass fell from the 19th floor of the 20-storey building to the street below.
At the time, a resident claimed it was ‘only a matter of time before it happened again’ and that it was ‘miracle no-one was killed.’
On Saturday, another pane of glass cracked, but did not fall to the ground.
It has now been made safe, but residents at the block, owned by developers Waterside Places, said they are still worried.
They said they think temperature problems inside the block have led to problems with windows.
Developers have apologised and say a full investigation has been launched.
Paul Kelly, a committee member at the Islington Wharf residents’ association, said he heard the bang while in the apartment with his girlfriend. He said a number of other windows have cracked in the apartment block over the past few months. Mr Kelly said: “I heard a loud bang from my living room, my girlfriend Paul Kelly shouted and I ran in. The glass had shattered. You could hear it had cracked.
“This has happened four or five times over the last year in apartments around the development.
“It has gone on and on, we are getting nowhere. It’s extremely frustrating.”
The M.E.N. has previously reported how residents at Islington Wharf Mews, a nearby apartment block run by the same developer, had to move out of the brand new site because it broke fire safety rules.
Mike Payton, on behalf of Waterside Places, said: “We are aware of a window breakage at Islington Wharf and we’re extremely sorry for any inconvenience caused to the resident affected.
“Our managing agents immediately attended and have made the area safe.
“We are undertaking a full investigation as to the cause and will continue to keep residents informed of our progress.”