'No warning' over cladding evacuation, couple say

A couple who had to leave their home after fire inspectors found dangerous cladding and issues with fire escapes have said they had "absolutely no warning".

Sixty people, including eight children, had to leave the 46 flats at Barbourne Works in Worcester after inspectors found dangers "so significant and the risk to residents was so severe" a prohibition notice was issued.

Ashley Gurr and Niamh Gillen, both 25, said they had lived at block for two years and news that it was not safe came as a shock.

Management firm First Port said the concerns related to defects from when the former factory was converted 20 years ago.

Residents affected included 52 adults and eight children - 47 of them went to stay with friends and family and 13 went to a rest centre at Perdiswell Leisure Centre before they were put up in hotels, fire service group commander Simon Cusack said.

"It was just sprung upon us with absolutely no warning," Mr Gurr said.

He said he got home from work to be told by a neighbour the building was being evacuated.

There were police cars with council workers there, he said, but added: "It took about an hour for them to actually tell us what was happening."

Ms Gillen said: "Everyone was congregating in the hallway trying to work out what was going on.

"We packed as much as feasibly possible for a night, and when they spoke to us eventually, they said 'you'll be allowed in to get stuff, but not that often and not too long', so it was about trying to get the essentials."

"We have no idea where we'll end up or for how long, so it's quite nervy," Mr Gurr added.

He said discovering the issues with the cladding and fire escapes had been "scary", after being resident there for two years.

Mr Gurr and Ms Gillen are staying with a friend for the weekend, but after that they need to find temporary accommodation.

"It is a bit unnerving, especially as we both work," Ms Gillen said, adding that their accommodation would have to allow them to get to their jobs.

They currently have no timescale for their return, she added.

The fire service had said safety concerns also involved "the ability of residents to be able to escape safely should a fire occur".

City councillor Mel Allcott said the evacuation came "out of the blue" and people would have woken up to a normal day on Wednesday, but come home to find everything had changed.

"It will be really tough for them, I think. It's just quite shocking, very unexpected," she said.

She said Barbourne Court was five storeys high, and not a tower block, but added: "It may seem quite heavy-handed, but it's really important that they keep people safe, and with the cladding and the fire escape routes both being an issue, they had to act."

Jacques Cheong, who owns a flat that is currently empty, said he found out about the evacuation at about 21:00 BST.

"I was horrified," he said, "because that was the first time I actually heard about it."

He said he waited to hear information from First Port but went to the building himself after he didn't hear anything.

"I found a security guy. There was no representative," he said, adding he'd received "no texts, no email, no nothing".

Worcester City Council provided rest centre facilities on Wednesday evening and arranged emergency accommodation as requested.

A council spokesman said: "The rest centre has now closed and we will continue to those in emergency accommodation."

The building is described by local estate agents as a converted Grade II-listed building that used to be a factory.

The 19th Century building, which has an internal courtyard, is a former printing plant that was later used as a depot by a clothes manufacturer.

Mr Cusack said a fire safety inspection team had visited the building and had worked with the building management company First Port, the architects and the fire engineers before the notice was issued.

"Essentially, this is down to cladding," he said.

Referring to the Grenfell Tower fire, he said: "There's timber cladding on the building, which is an issue, and aluminium composite material cladding on the building as well."

He confirmed both materials were flammable.

"Really, it just wasn't safe for the residents to remain there until this has been resolved," he said.

He said the residents were "so, so understanding", as the building was cleared.

Asked when they could go back home, he said a series of meetings would take place.

He added: "As soon as some of our concerns have been alleviated and some remedial work has taken place, then we will be able to lift the prohibition notice, but really it's down to the building management company - the timescale is in their hands."

Police assistance was sought by the fire service at about 16:30, the West Mercia force said.

Ten officers from the safer neighbourhood team helped to clear the building during the evening.

A statement from the force said: "Senior officers were also involved in a tactical co-ordinating group with partners who led on the evacuation and the temporary rehousing of residents."

A spokesman for First Port, a managing agent appointed by Resident Management Company (RMC), said: "We understand how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority."

He said the firm was committed to providing and regular updates.

The building safety inspection that identified concerns was carried out on Wednesday, he added.

"During the inspection, the fire service identified concerns relating to historical building defects from when Barbourne Court was converted into flats 20 years ago.

"As a result, the fire service issued a prohibition notice on the building with immediate effect."

Under the notice, the building must not be used for any residential purpose until necessary remedial works have taken place.

The building had already been accepted into the government's Cladding Safety Scheme and First Port had been ing RMC on that, the spokesman added.

The government scheme is a fund that addresses fire risks associated with cladding on residential buildings.

First Port said it was not yet known how long residents would be relocated, but the firm would provide updates.

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