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Camden flats: Hundreds of homes evacuated over fire risk fears | Camden flats: Hundreds of homes evacuated over fire risk fears |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 700 flats in tower blocks on an estate in the Swiss Cottage area of north-west London have been evacuated because of fire safety concerns. | More than 700 flats in tower blocks on an estate in the Swiss Cottage area of north-west London have been evacuated because of fire safety concerns. |
Camden Council said people in four towers on the Chalcots estate were moved for "urgent fire safety works". | Camden Council said people in four towers on the Chalcots estate were moved for "urgent fire safety works". |
The council added it was booking hotels but around 100 residents have spent the night on air beds in a leisure centre. | The council added it was booking hotels but around 100 residents have spent the night on air beds in a leisure centre. |
The estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where a fire is feared to have killed 79. | The estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where a fire is feared to have killed 79. |
Chalcots was refurbished between 2006 and 2009 by the same firm, Rydon, that oversaw work at Grenfell Tower in 2015-16. | Chalcots was refurbished between 2006 and 2009 by the same firm, Rydon, that oversaw work at Grenfell Tower in 2015-16. |
Camden Council said it will remove external thermal cladding from five tower blocks on the Chalcots estate. | Camden Council said it will remove external thermal cladding from five tower blocks on the Chalcots estate. |
It also said there were concerns about the insulation of gas pipes going into flats, and fire doors. | It also said there were concerns about the insulation of gas pipes going into flats, and fire doors. |
The council initially announced the evacuation of one tower block, Taplow, but later extended the move to all five tower blocks it had checked. | The council initially announced the evacuation of one tower block, Taplow, but later extended the move to all five tower blocks it had checked. |
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the council then announced that one of the five - Blashford - did not need to be evacuated, and residents could return. | |
Blashford is smaller and has "several different design elements". | Blashford is smaller and has "several different design elements". |
Residents of the estate attended a public meeting with council officials on Thursday evening. | Residents of the estate attended a public meeting with council officials on Thursday evening. |
The council's Labour leader, Georgia Gould, said the decision to evacuate the buildings was made at 18:30 BST on Friday. | The council's Labour leader, Georgia Gould, said the decision to evacuate the buildings was made at 18:30 BST on Friday. |
She said the fire service "told us they could not guarantee our residents' safety in those blocks". | She said the fire service "told us they could not guarantee our residents' safety in those blocks". |
Some residents said the first they heard of the evacuation was on the news. | Some residents said the first they heard of the evacuation was on the news. |
The council has secured 270 hotel rooms so far. Emergency accommodation was set up at Swiss Cottage leisure centre and at the Camden Centre in King's Cross. | The council has secured 270 hotel rooms so far. Emergency accommodation was set up at Swiss Cottage leisure centre and at the Camden Centre in King's Cross. |
"We're encouraging all residents to stay with friends and family if they can, otherwise we'll provide accommodation," the council said. | "We're encouraging all residents to stay with friends and family if they can, otherwise we'll provide accommodation," the council said. |
"I know it's difficult, but Grenfell changes everything and I just don't believe we can take any risk with our residents' safety and I have to put them first," Ms Gould said. | "I know it's difficult, but Grenfell changes everything and I just don't believe we can take any risk with our residents' safety and I have to put them first," Ms Gould said. |
She said the work is expected to take three to four weeks. Residents will be allowed in at the weekend to collect more possessions under escort from the fire brigade. | She said the work is expected to take three to four weeks. Residents will be allowed in at the weekend to collect more possessions under escort from the fire brigade. |
Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: "My thoughts are with residents being evacuated in Camden while their homes are made safe tonight." | Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: "My thoughts are with residents being evacuated in Camden while their homes are made safe tonight." |
She said the government was "offering every support we can" to residents and officials working at the estate. | She said the government was "offering every support we can" to residents and officials working at the estate. |
At the scene | At the scene |
Alex Regan, BBC News | Alex Regan, BBC News |
As the sun set on Swiss Cottage, there was frustration among residents of the Chalcots estate. | As the sun set on Swiss Cottage, there was frustration among residents of the Chalcots estate. |
With tower blocks being evacuated, the streets were teeming with neighbours, children, and cameramen. | With tower blocks being evacuated, the streets were teeming with neighbours, children, and cameramen. |
Camden Council employees wearing hi-viz vests stood outside the Taplow tower, speaking to residents. | Camden Council employees wearing hi-viz vests stood outside the Taplow tower, speaking to residents. |
Some of them only realised their homes were being evacuated after hearing news reports. | Some of them only realised their homes were being evacuated after hearing news reports. |
Most were not in the mood to talk. One woman shouted angrily at a TV cameraman: "Can you tell me what's going on?" | Most were not in the mood to talk. One woman shouted angrily at a TV cameraman: "Can you tell me what's going on?" |
Teacher Kim Price, who lives in Blashford tower with her 14-year-old son, said: "At 4pm today they said it would be okay and that all the checks were fine. | Teacher Kim Price, who lives in Blashford tower with her 14-year-old son, said: "At 4pm today they said it would be okay and that all the checks were fine. |
"And now all of a sudden the news is saying we should get out. | "And now all of a sudden the news is saying we should get out. |
"We've had two letters in two days saying 'you're not safe' then 'you're safe'. I don't really know what to do." | "We've had two letters in two days saying 'you're not safe' then 'you're safe'. I don't really know what to do." |
Edward Strange, who lives in an 11th floor flat with his wife and young daughter, said the evacuation was a "complete overreaction". | Edward Strange, who lives in an 11th floor flat with his wife and young daughter, said the evacuation was a "complete overreaction". |
He told the BBC there had been two previous fires in the block which were easily contained. | He told the BBC there had been two previous fires in the block which were easily contained. |
"I've got a young daughter, a wife and a cat, I've also got a job. They said it'd take four to six weeks. If the council says four to six weeks it'll take four to six months." | "I've got a young daughter, a wife and a cat, I've also got a job. They said it'd take four to six weeks. If the council says four to six weeks it'll take four to six months." |
Among those evacuated was Peter Bertram, 94, who has lived on the estate for 46 years. | |
The former RAF airman, who served in World War Two, said having to leave his home at short notice was a "shock". | |
"My neighbour told me 'Get this and that'. It happened so quick, I don't have the energy for that now. It's an experience." | |
Bob O'Toole, chair of Chalcots Estate residents' association, told BBC Breakfast that contractors had been working overnight in several of the tower blocks. | |
"A lot of people are annoyed because of the way [the evacuation] was done. They're saying it was left too late in the evening. But Camden Council didn't get the information till late, and they acted on that as quickly as possible." | |
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said other areas, such as Plymouth and Manchester, had seen measures introduced such as 24-hour fire wardens and did not need evacuating. | |
"What was very different here is that the local fire service found multiple other failures in fire safety that should have already been in place in the towers, and as a result of that, they've made this quite correct decision." | |
Mr Javid also said the government would "work with" any local authorities and housing associations that needed financial support to carry out necessary fire safety work in tower blocks. | |
"Public safety is absolutely paramount, you cannot put a price on people's lives. So local authorities have to do whatever it takes to get their buildings safe." | |
Camden Council agreed a contract with Rydon Construction to refurbish the Chalcots estate in May 2006 at a cost of £66m. | Camden Council agreed a contract with Rydon Construction to refurbish the Chalcots estate in May 2006 at a cost of £66m. |
The work took more than three and a half years. Five towers received new cladding, and 711 flats were modernised with new wiring, heating, kitchens and bathrooms. | The work took more than three and a half years. Five towers received new cladding, and 711 flats were modernised with new wiring, heating, kitchens and bathrooms. |
Friday night's announcement came as the Metropolitan Police said the Grenfell Tower fire started in a fridge-freezer, and outside cladding and insulation failed safety tests. | Friday night's announcement came as the Metropolitan Police said the Grenfell Tower fire started in a fridge-freezer, and outside cladding and insulation failed safety tests. |
A national operation to identify buildings with cladding similar to that used in Grenfell Tower has seen local authorities send samples for independent tests. | A national operation to identify buildings with cladding similar to that used in Grenfell Tower has seen local authorities send samples for independent tests. |
The Department for Communities and Local Government said 14 residential high-rise buildings in nine local authority areas have now been found with cladding that raises safety concerns. | The Department for Communities and Local Government said 14 residential high-rise buildings in nine local authority areas have now been found with cladding that raises safety concerns. |
Do you live in one of the affected tower blocks on the Chalcots estate in Camden Council? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Do you live in one of the affected tower blocks on the Chalcots estate in Camden Council? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |