Barton House: Look inside evacuated block hours from return deadline
Residents put up in a hotel by Bristol City Council since November have until 5pm to go home
Last updated 26th Feb 2024
Greatest Hits Radio has been shown new support beams built inside Barton House, as the Bristol tower block is once again declared safe to live in.
The city council block in Barton Hill was suddenly evacuated last November when the council discovered potential structural issues, which they said could cause the building to collapse if there was a fire.
Since then work has been ongoing to shore up the building and install a new fire alarm in communal areas, with residents who had been put up in a hotel now told they must return home by 5pm today (23 February).
However, many say they do not want to, despite a reported ultimatum from the council that anyone who does not will be considered "intentionally homeless" and therefore ineligible for homeless support.*
WATCH: Our video report from inside Barton House
Ahead of the deadline resident Fadumo, who is also a member of the housing union ACORN gave us a special look at one of the flats inside.
"They've done this bit in the middle," she said, pointing to a beam across the ceiling.
"They also moved this (radiator) to that side because they needed this space..."
The same kind of beam has been installed in every room in the flat including inside what appears to be a built in wardrobe.
"This family they had (imitating chest of draws) inside, so its disappeared.
"They don't know where it's gone, so the family are complaining about that."
Safety
Since November when the block was first evacuated extensive surveys have been conducted on the building and the resulting reports published online via this link.
Based on the reports, the installation of the fire alarm and new support beams, the city council and Avon Fire and Rescue Service both agree the building is safe.
However, for various reasons including the speed at which residents were told to leave last year, many do not trust what they are now being told.
"It's the effect it had on us the first time when they evacuated us," Fadumo said.
"We had only two hours to get what we needed to get...I was running around, grabbing my kids, whatever I could and I thought this building might collapse any time soon.
"That's what they told us at first.
"We told the kids, this building might collapse.
"They left their uniforms, they left their books, they left their toys, we just ran like we were in a warzone.
"That's not right.
"You cannot disturb the peace and then later pretend it was like nothing happened."
Other residents have expressed the same view about trauma caused by that initial night, but what has also caused tensions and sparked a lack of trust, has been the council's communication since.
Throughout the saga the council has refused to communicate with ACORN despite the group representing many residents, considering its approach too aggressive.
Multiple protests by ACORN members demanding council leadership meet with them have gone unanswered, some ending with the police being called and bans being handed out stopping members from returning to City Hall.
Additionally, since November documents have emerged suggesting the council was informed of potential issues with the building years before the evacuation was ordered, but failed to act.
Where else could people go?
Those who don't want to go back and might yet refuse to, are demanding the council rehouse them elsewhere.
However, it is unclear whether there is anywhere else they could go.
Prior to the Barton House evacuation there was already more than 20,000 households on the waiting list for council housing in Bristol, with 1,500 currently in accommodation classed as temporary.
With Barton House officially safe, it seems unlikely residents refusing to go back will be placed at the front of that queue.
The council
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council says in a statement that for several days they have been arranging for tenants to visit their flats to familiarise themselves with the new alarm system, ahead of moving back in properly.
They add the council will work with any tenants "who have concerns about returning", to alleviate those fears.
"Housing officers will be on hand to provide support and information throughout the visits and tenants’ return to the block which has already begun," they said.
“We thank Barton House tenants for their continued patience and resilience during the last few difficult months and would also like to extend our thanks to everyone who has provided help and support to the tenants during this time.”
Repeated requests for an interview with Greatest Hits Radio have so far gone unanswered.