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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/25/camden-evacuation-refuseniks-urged-to-go-so-fire-safety-work-can-start
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| Camden council leader goes door to door asking evacuation refuseniks to leave | Camden council leader goes door to door asking evacuation refuseniks to leave |
| (8 days later) | |
| The leader of Camden council was going door to door in the Chalcots estate on Sunday night to persuade the 200 residents who refuse to leave that they must move out so that vital fire safety work can begin. | The leader of Camden council was going door to door in the Chalcots estate on Sunday night to persuade the 200 residents who refuse to leave that they must move out so that vital fire safety work can begin. |
| Georgia Gould decided on Friday night to clear 600 flats after London Fire Brigade inspecting officers said there were serious fire safety concerns. The decision, taken in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster, left some 3,000 people facing weeks in temporary accommodation. | Georgia Gould decided on Friday night to clear 600 flats after London Fire Brigade inspecting officers said there were serious fire safety concerns. The decision, taken in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster, left some 3,000 people facing weeks in temporary accommodation. |
| Amid warnings that the council could ultimately use “legal options” to force people out, there were accusations from some residents that the operation was unnecessary and the organisation chaotic. But with 200 people in 120 households still reluctant to vacate their homes by Sunday afternoon, Gould said she was trying to persuade them personally. | Amid warnings that the council could ultimately use “legal options” to force people out, there were accusations from some residents that the operation was unnecessary and the organisation chaotic. But with 200 people in 120 households still reluctant to vacate their homes by Sunday afternoon, Gould said she was trying to persuade them personally. |
| “I’m going myself back to the blocks to knock on doors and have those conversations,” she said. “The last thing I want to do is force people out of their homes, and the conversations I have been having with residents in these buildings is that they are happy to work with us.” | “I’m going myself back to the blocks to knock on doors and have those conversations,” she said. “The last thing I want to do is force people out of their homes, and the conversations I have been having with residents in these buildings is that they are happy to work with us.” |
| Gould said issues such as agoraphobia were making some residents resistant to the idea. Others have said they were dissatisfied with the alternative accommodation. | Gould said issues such as agoraphobia were making some residents resistant to the idea. Others have said they were dissatisfied with the alternative accommodation. |
| The council said it could take two to four weeks for the four blocks, Taplow, Burnham, Bray and Dorney, to be made safe. | The council said it could take two to four weeks for the four blocks, Taplow, Burnham, Bray and Dorney, to be made safe. |
| Asked what would happen if some residents refused to leave, a spokesman for the council said: “We do have legal options available but we really, really don’t want to go down that route.” | Asked what would happen if some residents refused to leave, a spokesman for the council said: “We do have legal options available but we really, really don’t want to go down that route.” |
| He added that “for the moment, certainly for today” they would continue to try to persuade and reassure people that the council was acting on the fire authorities’ advice, with the best interests of the residents at heart. | He added that “for the moment, certainly for today” they would continue to try to persuade and reassure people that the council was acting on the fire authorities’ advice, with the best interests of the residents at heart. |
| One resident, Sayed Meah, 34, who has lived in Burnham since he was born, said he would leave his eighth-floor flat this evening after previously refusing to go. | One resident, Sayed Meah, 34, who has lived in Burnham since he was born, said he would leave his eighth-floor flat this evening after previously refusing to go. |
| “I am moving out tonight – I have no choice. I heard on the news that they are going to take legal action if we don’t go. The building needs to be empty to carry out the [building] work,” he said. | “I am moving out tonight – I have no choice. I heard on the news that they are going to take legal action if we don’t go. The building needs to be empty to carry out the [building] work,” he said. |
| Meah lives in the flat with his 78-year-old mother, who has had a stroke, and his wife. He helps provide care for his mother. He said the council had offered them temporary accommodation that would leave them all sleeping in one room. | Meah lives in the flat with his 78-year-old mother, who has had a stroke, and his wife. He helps provide care for his mother. He said the council had offered them temporary accommodation that would leave them all sleeping in one room. |
| He said was unsure whether he would accept it until the care company, which helps him, agreed to work at the new location. | He said was unsure whether he would accept it until the care company, which helps him, agreed to work at the new location. |
| “I would describe the organisation of all of this as extremely chaotic. People are frightened and I was genuinely scared when I first heard the news. My heart was pounding for an hour,” he said. | “I would describe the organisation of all of this as extremely chaotic. People are frightened and I was genuinely scared when I first heard the news. My heart was pounding for an hour,” he said. |
| Others have not budged in their opposition to moving. Another resident on the same block as Meah who declined to be named said: “I will resist going unless I am told I have to for a specific reason. For example, they say ‘You need to go in order to remove a panel and that means drilling here and cutting off electricity and water’. | Others have not budged in their opposition to moving. Another resident on the same block as Meah who declined to be named said: “I will resist going unless I am told I have to for a specific reason. For example, they say ‘You need to go in order to remove a panel and that means drilling here and cutting off electricity and water’. |
| “Unless they give me a legitimate reason to go I am not ... I refuse to let mass hysteria caused by newspapers and news outlets kick me out of my home.” | “Unless they give me a legitimate reason to go I am not ... I refuse to let mass hysteria caused by newspapers and news outlets kick me out of my home.” |
| Some of those who refuse to leave have young children, while others are concerned about their pets. But Gould insisted that the process was unavoidable. | Some of those who refuse to leave have young children, while others are concerned about their pets. But Gould insisted that the process was unavoidable. |
| “By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe,” she said in a statement. “It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents’ safety will continue to be the council’s number one priority.” | “By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe,” she said in a statement. “It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents’ safety will continue to be the council’s number one priority.” |
| But tenant Mandy Ryan claimed a security guard tried to intimidate her as she took her dogs for a walk on Sunday. Ryan, who shares her 22nd-floor flat in Dorney with her son, said the whole experience of the evacuation so far was “disruptive” and that she had encountered problems. | But tenant Mandy Ryan claimed a security guard tried to intimidate her as she took her dogs for a walk on Sunday. Ryan, who shares her 22nd-floor flat in Dorney with her son, said the whole experience of the evacuation so far was “disruptive” and that she had encountered problems. |
| “I was bullied this morning trying to leave the building, he [the security guard] stood in front of the door and guys surrounded him and he said, ‘We need to know who you are,’” she told the Press Association. | “I was bullied this morning trying to leave the building, he [the security guard] stood in front of the door and guys surrounded him and he said, ‘We need to know who you are,’” she told the Press Association. |
| She said she was told by the man, who she had not seen before, that she could not take her animals outside. | She said she was told by the man, who she had not seen before, that she could not take her animals outside. |
| Using a different building exit, Ryan added: “I was so scared, he got so close to me – I could feel his breath on my face. We are not the villains here, we are the victims.” | Using a different building exit, Ryan added: “I was so scared, he got so close to me – I could feel his breath on my face. We are not the villains here, we are the victims.” |
| Ryan said that along with her son, who has disabilities, they were sent to a property in Haringey on Saturday afternoon, but that it was in a complete state of disrepair when they arrived. | Ryan said that along with her son, who has disabilities, they were sent to a property in Haringey on Saturday afternoon, but that it was in a complete state of disrepair when they arrived. |
| She said: “When I was offered three bedrooms I thought it was fantastic, but I would rather have slept in the garages downstairs, I feared for my safety.” | She said: “When I was offered three bedrooms I thought it was fantastic, but I would rather have slept in the garages downstairs, I feared for my safety.” |
| She said she had now been offered two rooms at a nearby hotel, which will also allow them to take their two dogs. | She said she had now been offered two rooms at a nearby hotel, which will also allow them to take their two dogs. |
| Pressed on the claims made by residents of bullying and intimidation, Gould said she had phone calls from residents overnight expressing concern over the way they had been treated by security. | Pressed on the claims made by residents of bullying and intimidation, Gould said she had phone calls from residents overnight expressing concern over the way they had been treated by security. |
| “This morning I spoke to my chief executive and we had a conversation and we both agreed that we just needed to reiterate to security that we need to be calm and measured,” she said. | “This morning I spoke to my chief executive and we had a conversation and we both agreed that we just needed to reiterate to security that we need to be calm and measured,” she said. |
| “I am going to go to the blocks now and I will be saying that again. That’s why we had social workers down today, most of the residents are willing to go, they are just waiting for the right accommodation.” | “I am going to go to the blocks now and I will be saying that again. That’s why we had social workers down today, most of the residents are willing to go, they are just waiting for the right accommodation.” |
| Officials worked through Saturday night to support residents who obeyed the instruction to leave on Friday, some finding shelter with friends and family, and some sleeping on air mattresses in a local hall. Others complained that they had sat all night on plastic chairs waiting to hear about hotel rooms. | Officials worked through Saturday night to support residents who obeyed the instruction to leave on Friday, some finding shelter with friends and family, and some sleeping on air mattresses in a local hall. Others complained that they had sat all night on plastic chairs waiting to hear about hotel rooms. |
| The council said nearly 200 offers of temporary accommodation had been made, and most had been accepted. It also organised an Eid feast on Sunday in the Swiss Cottage community centre, with food, entertainment and a children’s creche to celebrate the end of Ramadan for anyone affected by the Chalcots evacuation. | The council said nearly 200 offers of temporary accommodation had been made, and most had been accepted. It also organised an Eid feast on Sunday in the Swiss Cottage community centre, with food, entertainment and a children’s creche to celebrate the end of Ramadan for anyone affected by the Chalcots evacuation. |
| “For everyone affected, we know that having to leave your home is distressing, and I understand that some residents are angry and upset. But the council must and will act to protect our residents,” Gould said. | “For everyone affected, we know that having to leave your home is distressing, and I understand that some residents are angry and upset. But the council must and will act to protect our residents,” Gould said. |
| She has committed £100,000 of council funds to pay for food and essential items residents may need, with the council having already spent £500,000 on hotel rooms for residents. | She has committed £100,000 of council funds to pay for food and essential items residents may need, with the council having already spent £500,000 on hotel rooms for residents. |