Grenfell tragedy sparks fears over flat blocks’ safety
WAKING watches have been imposed at two Runcorn apartment complexes in the wake of a the Grenfell disaster after rules on materials used and on evacuation procedure were overhauled.
The two developments’ circumstances differ.
At The Deck flats off Mersey Road in the town centre, apartment owners and renters learned in the days after Bonfire Night, when Halton’s flasghip fireworks display took place nearby, that some of the cladding was no longer compliant.
One tenant, Dan Snelson, noted that the date on the letter sent by the development’s management company Scanlans was November 6 – however, this also closely followed the publication of the landmark findings of the official Grenfell inquiry. The letter from Scanlans, seen by the Weekly News, said the ‘standard grade Trespa Meteon HPL panel’ used on the building ‘is NOT compliant with the latest guidance’ from The Ministry Of Housing, Communities, And Local Government (MHCLG).
It added that ‘this issue is further compounded by the timber framed structure of the building, the lack of cavity barriers and the gaps between the structure and cladding that would allow fire to travel freely within the cavity of the building’.
Halton Borough Council has confirmed that it is funding a waking watch of two personnel being provided during non-caretaker hours at the huge flats complex, which won design awards, and comprises several large multistorey blocks.
The letter also revealed that Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service is considering serving a prohibition notice on the ‘entire car park’, which means it could be shut until all the issues are resolved.
There is now the possibility that residents could shoulder some of the bill via their service charge.
The letter from Scanlans said: “In the first instance we need to establish with Cheshire Fire Service, what they will accept as an interim measure to enable the buildings to remain occupied. The problem with this, is any costs incurred in meeting these requirements will have to be funded from the service charges.
“Initial costs for a supplementary alarm system to provide sufficient decibel levels in all bedrooms are in the region of £25,000 per block and putting in place a waking watch is likely to exceed £100,000 per year.”
It added that the overhaul has come about due to changes in MHCLG rules following the Grenfell tragedy, which killed 72 victims.
Last month an official inquiry into the disaster condemned London Fire Brigade guidance to stay put instead of leaving the building as reducing the number of lives saved.
In its letter to residents, Scanlans said: “We would stress that the need to address these issues has only come about as a result of the Government revising their ( MHCLG) guidance notes; effectively placing a huge financial burden on leaseholders, without any form of redress or financial support.
“The fund that the Government has publicly stated is available to assist with cladding, is only available to buildings with cladding similar to that found at Grenfell Tower (ACM) and therefore not available to The Deck.
“We fully appreciate that these events are going to seriously impact all owners at The Deck who have all bought properties in good faith, based on planning and building regulations in place at the time of construction.”
The Weekly News put all of the points to Scanlans.
A Scanlans spokesman said: “The safety and wellbeing of residents in blocks managed by Scanlans is our main priority.
“The Deck was built more than 10 years ago by a reputable national housing developer, and complied fully with the Building Regulations in force at the time of construction.
“Following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, The Deck was deemed safe after extensive inspections and was signed off as such by Cheshire Fire & Rescue
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Service, which considered it low risk.
“However, in August this year, the Ministry Of Housing, Communities And Local Government made revisions to Advice Note 14, redefining its guidance without prior warning, and stated that these amendments would be imposed retrospectively.
“We have been working intensively to deal with these revisions in regards to The Deck and its residents, and we are liaising closely with Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service over a series of interim and longterm measures to ensure the development meets the requirements of the new guidance.
“Residents have been kept fully informed, and as soon as possible.
“They were advised of the change in evacuation strategy from ‘stay put’ to ‘evacuate’ on November 1, immediately after we received a report from Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service, and a waking watch service was immediately put in place via Halton Borough Council.
“To suggest there has been a delay in advising residents for any reason is inaccurate and spurious.
“The need for additional measures comply with the revised government guidance imposed retrospectively will unfortunately leave leaseholders having to pick up the costs. The Government pot set aside for buildings with cladding does not include issues of this nature.”
At Castle View House on East Lane in Runcorn, a reader contacted the Weekly News on behalf of someone at the converted office complex, revealing that an evacuation procedure notice has now been fixed in place urging tenants to flee immediately in the case of fire.
It added that tenants should evacuate the premises if they hear an ‘airhorn’, triggering concerns that a proper alarm system might not be fitted.
The resident said lifts are not working and that the front door and side doors are often open with no locks.
They added that the fire doors have gaps at the top and bottom, which would compromise how effective they would be in the event of a fire.
This was a ‘massive fire risk’, adding that their friend may have to jump from their window if a blaze happened.
The Weekly News put all of these points to the building’s letting agents, who forwarded the request to the developer The Lettings Room, which said it is following Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service’s advice to update the building.
Lee Jones, The Lettings Room managing director, said: “We are following the advice and guidance of Cheshire fire brigade to ensure that the building is fully compliant.
“Under Cheshire fire brigade’s advice, there has been a temporary change to the Fire Policy and a 24-seven manned waking watch has been implemented. These measures will remain in place until all compliance issues are rectified. “The safety of our residents is paramount.”
Castle View House opened to tenants in 2018 after the building had been sold off to private developers for £900,000 following the government’s closure of its previous occupants, The Department For Education. In June this year, it was revealed that the building’s owner Rally Century owed Halton Borough Council £500,000 in business rates.
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