COPS CALLED TO FLATS 54 TIMES IN SIX MONTHS

POLICE were called out to a Runcorn block of flats – described by one resident as a ‘living hell’ – 54 times in the first six months this year.

Exclusive data obtained by the Weekly News from Cheshire Constabulary under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) revealed officers were called to 25 ‘crimes’ and 29 ‘incidents’ at Castle View House on East Lane during January to June.

The figures equate to just over two call outs a week to the block on average, but the data revealed occasional flurries of activity.

Officers were called to the block four times on Saturday, March 21, at 12.08am, 12.39pm, 12.50pm – potentially in connection to the previous ‘crime’ reported at 12.39pm, and 2.07pm.

There were also back-to-back attendances on every day from March 20 to March 24, and every day for five days from June 8 to June 12.

The Weekly News requested the data after a tenant made contact to complain about issues in the block and concerns about the levels of callouts for the police and fire service.

They described living in Castle View House as a ‘living hell’, despite paying £425 a month for rent.

She said the communal bins had been set on fire and not been replaced.

Castle View House was also made subject to a fire enforcement notice by Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service on November 5, and which was extended in February.

The deadline for the improvements is Wednesday, July 29.

Demands in the notice include making sure the building fulfils a range of safety standards including having enough smoke alarms, emergency exit and route signs, firefighting equipment, emergency doors that open in the direction of escape, emergency lighting and a fire assessment.

LIV Group property management has previously responded to the resident’s claims and the points in the notice, saying that ‘productive’ meetings have taken place with tenants, the potential for CCTV is being reviewed and a looped smoke alarm system was booked in for fitting on June 26.

Castle View House used to be a

Department For Education office until its closure in 2014.

It was later sold for what one councillor described as the ‘peanuts’ price of £900,000 and converted into flats under the then-Coalition Government’s controversial permitted development rules.

Planning permission was granted in 2017 for 248 apartments, and Halton Borough Council included the block in plans for the ‘Halton

Lea NHS Healthy New Town’ project.

Initial plans for the site gained approval for 188 flats, but that was increased in subsequent applications.

Cheshire police confirmed it had been investigating recent ‘criminal damage’ incidents at the block and liaising with the owners and fire service over residents concerns.

Following previous contact from the Weekly News, Dan Dickinson, LIV Group’s head of block management, said the firm was ‘confident’ the building will be compliant by July 29, adding that ‘residents’ safety is and remains paramount’.

He said residents involved in ‘disturbances’ requiring the police to attend were ‘in the process of being sanctioned’.