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Camden flats: Hundreds of homes evacuated over fire risk fears | Camden flats: Hundreds of homes evacuated over fire risk fears |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 800 homes in tower blocks on a council estate in Camden, north London, are being evacuated because of fire safety concerns. | More than 800 homes in tower blocks on a council estate in Camden, north London, are being evacuated because of fire safety concerns. |
Camden Council says people in five towers on the Chalcots estate will be moved for "urgent fire safety works" - and it is "block-booking hotels". | Camden Council says people in five towers on the Chalcots estate will be moved for "urgent fire safety works" - and it is "block-booking hotels". |
The estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where there was a deadly fire this month. | The estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where there was a deadly fire this month. |
A total of 79 people are feared dead after that disaster. | A total of 79 people are feared dead after that disaster. |
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 "gas pipe insulation". | It also said there were concerns about "gas pipe insulation". |
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. |
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 leader, Labour's Georgia Gould, said the decision to evacuate the buildings was made at about 18:30 BST on Friday after the fire service "told us they could not guarantee our residents' safety in those blocks". | The council leader, Labour's Georgia Gould, said the decision to evacuate the buildings was made at about 18:30 BST on Friday after the fire service "told us they could not guarantee our residents' safety in those blocks". |
On Friday night some residents said the first they heard of the evacuation was on the news. | On Friday night some residents said the first they heard of the evacuation was on the news. |
And - although the council said it was booking hotels - some residents said they were spending the night on air beds in a gym. | And - although the council said it was booking hotels - some residents said they were spending the night on air beds in a gym. |
"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. |
Camden Council said officials had been knocking on the doors of the towers one at a time for safety reasons - starting at Taplow and followed by Burnham, Bray, Blashford and Dorney. | Camden Council said officials had been knocking on the doors of the towers one at a time for safety reasons - starting at Taplow and followed by Burnham, Bray, Blashford and Dorney. |
Residents will be allowed in at the weekend to collect more possessions under escort from the fire brigade. | 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. | |
With five 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. | |
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?" | |
Read more from Alex | |
Speaking to the Press Association, resident Michelle Urquhart said: "It's a bit frightening. | Speaking to the Press Association, resident Michelle Urquhart said: "It's a bit frightening. |
"I don't know where we are going to go. I'm so angry because we had the meeting with the council last night and they tried to reassure us. | "I don't know where we are going to go. I'm so angry because we had the meeting with the council last night and they tried to reassure us. |
"We have been living in these flats for the last 10 years with this cladding." | "We have been living in these flats for the last 10 years with this cladding." |
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." |
Another resident, Roger Evans, also said he thought the council action was "excessive". | Another resident, Roger Evans, also said he thought the council action was "excessive". |
Ahmed Mohamed, 19, who lives in Taplow tower with his parents and two sisters, said they were alerted by a neighbour at 20:15 that they needed to leave. | Ahmed Mohamed, 19, who lives in Taplow tower with his parents and two sisters, said they were alerted by a neighbour at 20:15 that they needed to leave. |
"We only had five minutes to get our stuff," he said. | "We only had five minutes to get our stuff," he said. |
Hamza Usman, 21, who lives in Burnham, said: "I found out that we have to evacuate through BBC News. | Hamza Usman, 21, who lives in Burnham, said: "I found out that we have to evacuate through BBC News. |
"I called my mum and she said she had heard nothing either." | "I called my mum and she said she had heard nothing either." |
'Temporarily decanted' | 'Temporarily decanted' |
Camden's leader, Georgia Gould, said London Fire Brigade had completed a joint inspection of the blocks with Camden Council technical experts. | Camden's leader, Georgia Gould, said London Fire Brigade had completed a joint inspection of the blocks with Camden Council technical experts. |
It was decided the flats needed to be "temporarily decanted...so that residents can be fully assured of their safety". | It was decided the flats needed to be "temporarily decanted...so that residents can be fully assured of their safety". |
Ms Gould said the work is expected to take three to four weeks. | Ms Gould said the work is expected to take three to four weeks. |
A rest centre had been set up and residents were being found hotels and other accommodation, she said. | A rest centre had been set up and residents were being found hotels and other accommodation, she said. |
Camden Council agreed a contract with Rydon Construction - the same firm that oversaw the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower - to refurbish the Chalcots Estate in May 2006 at a cost of £66m. | Camden Council agreed a contract with Rydon Construction - the same firm that oversaw the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower - to refurbish the Chalcots Estate in May 2006 at a cost of £66m. |
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. |
A DCLG spokesman said: "Camden Council and the Fire and Rescue Service are rightly working together to implement their responsibilities under the Emergency Fire Safety Review that we sent them... | A DCLG spokesman said: "Camden Council and the Fire and Rescue Service are rightly working together to implement their responsibilities under the Emergency Fire Safety Review that we sent them... |
"The government, through London Resilience, is offering every assistance in getting this done as swiftly and safely as possible." | "The government, through London Resilience, is offering every assistance in getting this done as swiftly and safely as possible." |
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 |