Ipswich tower block residents told they can finally return home next year
They were forced to evacuate last year amidst issues with cladding and flooding
Residents of an Ipswich tower block who've been out of their homes for 18 months could finally be returning next year.
Those living in St Francis Tower were forced to evacuate in July last year after several severe water leaks during work to fix unsafe cladding.
Now the Government's confirmed it'll be providing millions of pounds worth of new funding for repairs with residents told, if work begins immediately, they should be able to return to the building in 2025.
"I'll sleep better at night"
Ross Bonner owns four flats in the building and says the news is a relief: "I feel good.
"I think it's a light at the end of the tunnel and common sense has prevailed... it's something that we've all been waiting for...
"We're at the end of it now hopefully and people can move back into their homes and we can put this all to rest...
"I'll feel relieved because then I can get back to doing my normal job, which is just to take care of my tenants and take care of my business.
"I won't have to be so involved in fire safety and all the jargon of all the legislation and reforms and everything you need to be involved in.
"I'll sleep better at night, let's put it that way."
He says he'll only feel entirely comfortable once everyone's safely back in their homes though: "The quicker we get to the end of this, the better for everyone - otherwise, it can really have dire effects going forward into the future...
"Everyone wants to return to their homes, especially at Christmas time, and the residents have been promised this for three years running now."
He explained it's been a really tough time for him: "It's affected us massively because we've had to draw back on things that we were wanting to do.
"I have not been able to move, it's stagnated everything and it's cut holes in things.
"I've had to change the way my payments are made. My liabilities have risen because I can't afford to pay what I need to pay when I need to pay it.
"Going forward, hopefully I can get myself out of that... and start moving forwards."
"An ongoing nightmare"
Jack Abbott, Member of Parliament for Ipswich, said: “The Building Safety Crisis has ruined the lives of hundreds of people in Ipswich, and was one of the most pressing issues I inherited when I was elected as the town’s Member of Parliament.
“For residents of St Francis Tower, the Building Safety Crisis has been an ongoing nightmare. After years of being subjected to never-ending works while living shrink-wrap, they were then evicted from their homes last year after devastating flooding.
“My team and I have been working hard to resolve this situation, and I am delighted that there is now light at the end of the tunnel, having secured the funding needed to repair the building. If work commences immediately, as it should, it will mean residents can return to their homes next year. They deserve this good news after years of misery."
He also welcomes the news that the Government has also confirmed that extra funding will be made available for work at Churchmans House, on Portman Road- another building in the town affected by dangerous cladding:
“I am also pleased that we have helped secure further government funding for Churchmans House to carry out works needed to make the building safe. I am hopeful that this means the threat of eviction subsides, and that the residents will no longer have to live in constant fear and insecurity.
“While there is still much work to do across the town - and I will continue to hold all stakeholders to account to deliver remediation works as quickly as possible - I believe we will look back at this moment as the turning point for the Building Safety Crisis in Ipswich.
"I am pleased to have worked so constructively with the Government, and thank them for their determination in tackling this crisis in Ipswich."