Update on Sunderland's Horizon building temporary evacuation
The rest centre set up to support residents of the Horizon building in Sunderland, has closed.
The rest centre set up to support residents of the Horizon building in Sunderland, has closed.
More than 150 residents of the privately owned block of flats were asked to temporarily leave Horizon on Tuesday afternoon after Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) served a prohibition notice, due to concerns about fire safety following a total loss of power to the building.
Sunderland City Council set up a temporary reception centre at the nearby Raich Carter Leisure Centre in Hendon for tenants with nowhere else to go.
Sixty two displaced tenants registered at the rest centre, with advice and support being provided.
But with only 13 households remaining, a decision was taken by the council to close the rest centre from 1 pm yesterday.
A City Council spokesperson said: "While a temporary reception centre can only ever provide basic accommodation, and many residents chose to stay with friends and family, we tried our best to make sure that residents displaced from Horizon were as comfortable as they could be in the circumstances.
"Many of those who were initially displaced have been supported to find temporary and some cases permanent alternative accommodation elsewhere by our housing team, while those remaining have been placed in temporary accommodation while they make their own arrangements.
"I’d like to thank our own teams who have worked around the clock to support residents as best they could and also the Salvation Army and the Red Cross who have done an excellent job providing food and hot drinks, as well as a friendly face to talk to while the rest centre was open."