Tenants' terror inside evacuated tower block that's been 'let down by democracy'

Residents at th Bristol tower block say they’re not satisfied their homes are even safe to live in

Tenants at a tower block say they’re afraid to return to their homes after they were evacuated six months ago.

Residents at Barton House in Bristol were told to leave in November as the council needed to implement new safety measures. Now they’ve been given the all-clear to return, but say they’re still extremely worried, citing a string of “broken promises” and lack of communication – while one claimed he remains terrified the block could collapse.

Peristent concerns about the building’s safety – which were initially flagged in 2017 – remain, but authorities’ dealing with the situation has eroded many residents’ trust. They claim the city’s council failed to respond to a Freedom of Information request back when they were evacuated.

While reports indicate that all but one tenant have moved back into the tower block, there is a sentiment among some that more support is needed for those seeking different housing options. Bristol City Council meanwhile maintains that the safety of residents has always been its ‘priority throughout’ with new protocols put in place.

But tenant and dad-of-two Shaban Ali says he has moved back in but is living in fear. He told Bristol Live: “With the last few residents now reluctantly back at Barton House, the mood is incredibly sombre and it feels like we have been badly let down by democracy. Schools, GPs and various organisations advocating for Barton House residents have been ignored.”

“Freedom of Information requests regarding the safety of the building and questions around the letter sent to mayor’s office in 2017 requests still go unanswered. All trust and credibility with the council has been eroded; the majority of the residents, especially parents, don’t believe Barton house is safe.”

The council insists it’s business as usual, conducting routine checks on the building and assuring back in April that there’s no ’cause for concern’, despite tenant Fadumo Farah raising the alarm over a survey by engineering firm Arup. At the time, Ms Farah claimed the firm “was instructed by the council not to engage with residents.”

Neighbour Wilfred Stewart claims he’s petrified the building might collapse, despite being reassured of its safety. Another resident Yousif Ahmed told the BBC he’s constantly anxious about the structure’s integrity, so much so that he’s mapped out an escape plan.

Shaban added: “It’s quite difficult to not feel like you’re living in a conspiracy theory when there’s so much push back on the most basic requests, such as the information requests but also home choice application drop in sessions and welfare checks. There are so many vulnerable people and voiceless people living in Barton House and a lot more needs to be done to support them.

“On many occasions we have been told that cases will be assessed on an individual basis but all our homelessness applications have been put on a conveyor belt of generic responses. We need to declare a housing emergency and the next incoming central government needs to intervene and help Bristol City council fulfil its responsibilities towards its high rise towers residents who have been ignored for far too long.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “Since we made the difficult decision to evacuate the building on 14 November, we have put in place a number of safety measures including a centralised fire alarm system and fireproofing of the building’s steel frame. All recommendations made in the survey reports were followed and completed before tenants were asked to return.”

“Resident safety has been our priority throughout. We have been very conscious of the impact that the emergency decant had on our residents. Throughout the decant, council officers have been on the ground, at both Barton House and the Holiday Inn, providing one to one support for residents.”

“Culturally intelligent advice and guidance for residents needing to access mental health support has been made available from local organisations including Nilaari, The Barton Hill Settlement, and Somali Resource Centre. There is a diverse mix of people in Barton House, reflecting the demographics of the community it is located in, and the city’s residents. Regardless of any personal vulnerabilities, residents have shown resilience and strength during a really challenging time.”

“Demand on our already limited council housing in Bristol is high which means we cannot place everyone in the type of home they would ideally want. We’re working to build homes, invest in existing stock and respond effectively to any concerns about safety.”