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Cladding fire tests failed by 34 blocks in 17 areas | Cladding fire tests failed by 34 blocks in 17 areas |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Cladding on 34 tower blocks in 17 council areas in England has failed fire safety tests, the government says. | Cladding on 34 tower blocks in 17 council areas in England has failed fire safety tests, the government says. |
So far, every sample has failed the tests. The government plans to examine cladding from up to 600 blocks. | So far, every sample has failed the tests. The government plans to examine cladding from up to 600 blocks. |
The updated figures came as people from the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, north London, spent a second night away from their homes. | The updated figures came as people from the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, north London, spent a second night away from their homes. |
But - across the country - not every block that fails safety tests will be evacuated. | But - across the country - not every block that fails safety tests will be evacuated. |
Four of the five blocks on the Chalcots Estate were evacuated on Friday because of fears over cladding, gas pipes, and fire doors. | Four of the five blocks on the Chalcots Estate were evacuated on Friday because of fears over cladding, gas pipes, and fire doors. |
Camden Council said it had no option but to move residents from 650 flats while work takes place. | Camden Council said it had no option but to move residents from 650 flats while work takes place. |
Accommodation offers | |
Council leader Georgia Gould said staff would continue asking those who had not yet left to vacate their flats. | |
"By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe. | |
"It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents' safety will continue to be the council's number one priority." | |
Almost 200 offers of accommodation have been made to displaced residents, and most of these have been taken up. | |
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid - while agreeing with the decision in Camden - said: "A failure in testing of the cladding does not necessarily mean that a building will have to be evacuated. | |
"The decision by Camden council was because the failed testing of the external cladding was compounded by multiple other fire safety failures." | "The decision by Camden council was because the failed testing of the external cladding was compounded by multiple other fire safety failures." |
Plymouth is one of the affected areas. The elected leader of the city council, Ian Bowyer, said: "We are not proposing to evacuate... | Plymouth is one of the affected areas. The elected leader of the city council, Ian Bowyer, said: "We are not proposing to evacuate... |
"The failures that have been attributed to the blocks in Camden are not present here in the three tower blocks in Plymouth." | "The failures that have been attributed to the blocks in Camden are not present here in the three tower blocks in Plymouth." |
The Local Government Association said some councils have introduced 24-hour warden patrols to mitigate the risk before cladding is removed. | The Local Government Association said some councils have introduced 24-hour warden patrols to mitigate the risk before cladding is removed. |
The Department for Communities and Local Government's testing programme, which began on Wednesday, is able to test 100 samples a day. | The Department for Communities and Local Government's testing programme, which began on Wednesday, is able to test 100 samples a day. |
If needed, further lab capability could be provided. Mr Javid said testing was taking place "around the clock". | If needed, further lab capability could be provided. Mr Javid said testing was taking place "around the clock". |
Although every sample has failed the test so far, he pointed out that local authorities have been asked to prioritise buildings they had most concern over. | Although every sample has failed the test so far, he pointed out that local authorities have been asked to prioritise buildings they had most concern over. |
Seven of the 17 local authorities where high-rise buildings have failed fire safety tests have been named. They are: | Seven of the 17 local authorities where high-rise buildings have failed fire safety tests have been named. They are: |
The Chalcots Estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London, where a fire is feared to have killed 79 people. | The Chalcots Estate's cladding is similar to Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London, where a fire is feared to have killed 79 people. |
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. |
After the evacuation, emergency accommodation was set up at Swiss Cottage leisure centre and at the Camden Centre in King's Cross. | After the evacuation, emergency accommodation was set up at Swiss Cottage leisure centre and at the Camden Centre in King's Cross. |
Camden Council - which said it already spent £500,000 on hotel rooms - said it would reimburse residents who have paid for their own temporary accommodation. | Camden Council - which said it already spent £500,000 on hotel rooms - said it would reimburse residents who have paid for their own temporary accommodation. |
It has also set aside £100,000 for food and essential items for displaced residents. | It has also set aside £100,000 for food and essential items for displaced residents. |
The work at Chalcots is expected to take three to four weeks. | The work at Chalcots is expected to take three to four weeks. |
Sayed Mead, a resident on the estate who left his flat, told BBC Breakfast that not knowing where he was going to be housed had been "eating me away". | Sayed Mead, a resident on the estate who left his flat, told BBC Breakfast that not knowing where he was going to be housed had been "eating me away". |
He was eventually told at midnight on Saturday where he and his mother can stay, and said it felt like "I'm going to start my life all over again". | He was eventually told at midnight on Saturday where he and his mother can stay, and said it felt like "I'm going to start my life all over again". |
He also said the council had created "panic" among the residents. | He also said the council had created "panic" among the residents. |
Despite being urged to leave, around 20 households had refused to vacate their homes by Saturday evening. | Despite being urged to leave, around 20 households had refused to vacate their homes by Saturday evening. |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said councils across the country needed to deal "swiftly and effectively with the scale of the fire safety challenge" posed by the Grenfell Tower fire. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said councils across the country needed to deal "swiftly and effectively with the scale of the fire safety challenge" posed by the Grenfell Tower fire. |
"This is now a nationwide threat and the prime minister needs to get a grip," he added. | "This is now a nationwide threat and the prime minister needs to get a grip," he added. |
Do you live in one of the tower blocks that have failed fire cladding safety tests? Are you a resident in one of the affected tower blocks on the Chalcots estate? 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 |