Barton House tower block evacuation followed ‘failures at every …
The Barton House evacuation is down to ‘failures at every level of government’ according to the firefighters union. In a hard-hitting statement from the FBU today (November 22), its general secretary said the evacuation of more than 400 people from the tower block in Barton Hill was ‘another example of communities being failed’. Bristol City Council[1] ordered the evacuation last Tuesday evening, November 14, and is currently putting up 67 households in a hotel in the city centre, while 13 households are staying with family and friends.
Of the remaining 18 flats in the 98-flat tower block, 14 are households who have either decided to stay or did evacuate and have now moved back, while four flats were empty. Responding to reports by Bristol Live that the Government warned councils in 2017 about ageing tower blocks[2] built in the LPS large panel system method, the FBU said concerns that have been repeatedly raised about these ‘potentially catastrophic building safety risks’ have ‘not been properly addressed by Westminster.
Matt Wrack, the Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said it was an example of a national ‘crisis in building safety’. “It is now clear that the residents of Barton House will suffer serious disruption for weeks to come,” he said.
“No one should have to worry about whether their home might collapse in the event of a fire. The crisis in building safety has been caused by failures at every level of government, and a lack of regulation and enforcement. This is yet another example of communities being failed and lives being put at risk.
“Decision-makers at every level of government must listen to residents. We need urgent action from central government to ensure all tower blocks and housing are fit for purpose,” he added. Bristol Live has contacted Bristol City Council about the FBU’s comments, and a response is awaited.
Mayor Marvin Rees[5] said last week that the decision to evacuate was taken after a report[6] into Barton House’s structure found that the building had not originally been built to the plan drawn up when it was constructed in 1957 and 1958[7] – and therefore, the structural engineers could give no guarantees about the building’s safety and resilience if there was a fire or other major incident there.
References
- ^ Bristol City Council (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ warned councils in 2017 about ageing tower blocks (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Government warned Bristol City Council about Barton House and four other blocks in 2017 (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ It’s not the first time Barton House residents have been evacuated (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Marvin Rees (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ decision to evacuate was taken after a report (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ when it was constructed in 1957 and 1958 (www.bristolpost.co.uk)