People living in Bristol’s oldest tower block have been told the building has ‘reached a point where decisions need to be made’ about the ‘long-term future building’, just months after they returned to their homes following a three-month evacuation.
Bristol City Council ’s executive director John Smith has told residents of Barton House that the ‘need to decide on the long-term future’ of the building is ‘not related to safety’, but whether or not the 66-year-old block of flats is worth refurbishing.
Residents of Barton House have been told the council has commissioned a major survey of the tower block, which will see a specialist firm called Ridge go into every one of the 98 flats and check the condition of the building, the fixtures and fittings and doors.
The letter from the council to residents hints that the results of the survey will inform council chiefs when they make a decision over the long-term future of the building, which was declared safe to return to back in February, three months after residents were evacuated with no notice in mid-November.
Mr Smith’s letter tells residents that there is still a question mark hanging over the future of the building. “The block is ageing and has reached a point where decisions need to be made about the long-term future of the building,” he said.
“I want to reiterate my previous assurance and confidence in the safety of Barton House. Our need to decide on the long-term future is not related to safety but instead recognition that refurbishment works will be required to maintain the building in future,” he added.
“We’re now at a stage where we can begin assessing this level of refurbishment,” adding that the inspection will be ‘from top to bottom’ of the building. “These surveys will be visual assessments of the condition of the properties in your block, including your home. A condition survey of your home involves visual inspection of the fixtures and fittings, such as kitchens, bathrooms and external doors. The information from the surveys will then be used to help us to understand the work required to maintain your home in the future,” added Mr Smith.
Residents of Barton House were told to leave their homes immediately, on the evening of November 14 last year, and put up in hotels in the city centre for more than three months, after council chiefs took a decision based on a re-evaluation of a survey into the building’s structure prompted fears it could collapse in the event of a fire.
After a month or so, the residents were told further survey work found that wasn’t the case, but extra fire safety measures were installed and the residents were told to stay away until the end of February. Many have since been involved in long-running campaigns to be moved out of Barton House, and be given priority for re-housing, because of continued fears about the building, and because of the trauma of the evacuation.
Residents are holding an Evacuation Remembrance Day at 6pm on the first anniversary of that evacuation, and the tower block’s representative for the tenants’ union Acorn, Fadumo Farah, said they were still waiting for a formal apology from Bristol City Council for the way they were treated.
“It has been a year since the evacuation of Barton House, and many residents, especially children, are still suffering from its effects,” said Ms Farah.
“Some children have needed ongoing support from CAMHS due to the emotional trauma. Despite this, we have yet to receive a formal apology from the council, and many families are still waiting to be rehoused.
“All residents, including ACORN members, have not given up. We have stood together and continued fighting for justice. Recently, Cllr Barry Parsons, the chair of the housing committee, re-committed to rehousing us, and we are working with Medact to gather evidence to support our case. We will keep pushing for change,” she said.