Residents of high-rise apartments in Birmingham are expressing deep concern and frustration over the lack of action to remove dangerous cladding from their buildings. Despite living with the same flammable cladding as Grenfell Tower, many have seen little progress in making their homes safe, leading to growing anxiety and fear.
Residents’ Concerns
1. Fear and Frustration
Residents of Liberty Place and King Edwards Wharf in Birmingham have been waiting since 2020 for the removal of flammable cladding and insulation from their buildings. Despite registering for this critical work, no action has been taken, leaving them in a constant state of worry.
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Leaseholder Paul Baston shared his concerns, stating, “People are very, very concerned. What we witnessed at Grenfell, we could witness here.” The recent fire that devastated a tower block in Dagenham has reignited these fears, reminding residents of the dangers they continue to face.
2. Living with Fear
Neera Soni, a resident and leaseholder at King Edwards Wharf, has lived in her apartment for about 12 years. She was caring for her young grandchildren when the Grenfell fire occurred and recalls being terrified about how they would escape in a similar situation. “We were absolutely petrified, if a fire happened, how would we get out?” she said. The fear was so intense that her family considered buying rope ladders to escape from the balcony in case of an emergency.
Delays and Responsibility
1. Delays in Action
Both Mr. Baston and Ms. Soni feel that the process to remove the dangerous cladding should have been much quicker. Ms. Soni highlighted the government’s slow response, stating, “It took the government three years after Grenfell to decide who would have to pay for the cladding.” In many cases, residents were forced to cover the costs themselves, with no reimbursement from the government.
2. Developer and Government Involvement
At Liberty Place, the responsibility for removing the cladding falls on the developer, Lendlease, which has signed up to the government’s cladding pledge. The company has assured residents that their priority is to ensure every building they are responsible for is safe, with plans to start the work in October.
Meanwhile, Ms. Soni’s building is covered under the Government’s Building Safety Fund, which will eventually provide the funds needed to remove the cladding. However, the ongoing delays continue to leave residents in a vulnerable position.
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Wider Safety Concerns
1. Fire Safety Issues in Birmingham
The issue of dangerous cladding is not isolated to these two buildings. Andrew Scattergood from the Fire Brigades Union has pointed out that there are numerous buildings across Birmingham and the West Midlands still covered in dangerous cladding. Additionally, there are other fire safety issues in high-rise buildings, including faulty fire doors and alarms, further compounding the risks faced by residents.
Conclusion
The ongoing presence of dangerous cladding on high-rise buildings in Birmingham is a serious issue that demands immediate attention. Residents are living in fear, knowing that their homes are not safe, and the slow progress in addressing this problem only adds to their anxiety. Both the government and developers need to prioritize the removal of dangerous cladding and ensure that all necessary fire safety measures are in place to protect residents.
