Waking watches begin at 38 Bristol high-rises
All the council run blocks are covered in dangerous cladding
Fire wardens are now patrolling 38 residential tower blocks across Bristol after it emerged all of them are covered in dangerous cladding.
Bristol City Council confirmed the news this afternoon (November 15), a week after it emerged the cladding helped spread a fire in one block, Eccleston House in Barton Hill.
Six people were injured in that fire in October, with the council later admitting to us that until the fire, they had not realised the cladding was flammable.
The waking watches have been brought in as a precaution while work is done to remove the cladding, though we're told that could take up to 10 years.
“We have now introduced a waking watch to all 38 EPS-clad (Expanded Polystyrene) blocks as a precautionary measure" a council spokesperson confirmed.
"We’d like to thank our high-rise residents for their patience, help and understanding during this time."
Last week in an exclusive interview with us, the city council's cabinet member for Housing said he wasn't sure exactly what tests would have been done on the cladding at the time it was installed.
"The introduction of these systems on these blocks will largely have been before my time, so it's difficult for me to comment on that," he said.
"What I would say is I would hope cladding was put on in line with the regulations that were in force at the time."
The council says that engagement sessions with residents at all blocks are being arranged for the coming weeks, at which officials will outline the safety measures and evacuation plans in place.
The 38 high-rise blocks in question are as follows:
Armada (annex only), Ashmead, Barlands, Barton, Barwick, Beaufort, Brandon, Brookridge, Broughton, Butler, Carolina (annex only), Castlegate, Chalcroft, Chestnut, Croydon, Eccleston, Fremantle (annex only), Gilton, Harwood, Hayleigh, Holroyd, Landsdowne (not EPS but very similar, and so being treated in the same manner), Longlands, Middleford, Millmead, Moorfields, Northfield, Phoenix, Polden, Rawnsley, Redwood, Rowan, Sedgewick, Southbow, Twinnell, Whitemead, Winterstoke, and Yeamans.
Despite the council's actions many residents have told us of their fear living in the blocks.
One at Eccleston House, who asked to remain anonymous, described his apartment as "like a prison cell in the sky".
"To be honest with you I feel this place should be demolished," he said.
"I feel most tower blocks are well passed their sell by date.
"They should all be demolished and we should be rehoused.
"Of course, that's never going to happen because there's a housing crisis in this country."
We have asked the council to confirm when the cladding was installed on each block, and whether it met the relevant safety regulations at the time.
We are still awaiting a response.