Five Canning Town Tower Blocks Evacuated Over Structural Fears
At least 250 households in Canning Town, east London, have been ordered out of their homes at short notice because of structural concerns in five blocks. Several businesses have been forced to close as well, and residents have been told not to return until further notice.
What engineers found
Building manager Prime Property Management said earlier that structural engineers had identified an "imminent risk to life" connected with the transfer slab that sits beneath the blocks. A transfer slab is a structural slab that carries the load of the building above it. The firm did not reply when the BBC asked it to comment.
The first three towers were emptied without notice at about 03:00 BST on 23 October. Structural engineers' inspections and reports came first. Two more blocks were evacuated on Friday evening, a week later.
The buildings
The five blocks are Centurion Tower, St Vincent Court, Sovereign Tower, Thanet Tower and Prince Tower. They stand in the Caxton Works development, also known as Royal Gateway. Galliard Homes built them about nine years ago. Residents are private tenants or leaseholders.
Residents out of their flats
Residents have to cover hotel rooms upfront from their own pockets.
By Monday posters warning of a "danger to life" hung on the towers. Residents were seen moving out suitcases and plants, and a removal van stood by. One man who came back for essentials said he had nowhere else to go. The mortgage on the flat he shares with his wife and two young children was, he said, all he had invested.
Shops, a restaurant and a nursery
The owner of a Japanese restaurant on the ground floor of one block said his staff were suddenly left without work or income. Another 12 businesses connected with his have suffered, he said. If he cannot claim insurance, he fears the business would shut down entirely.
Golden Sparks children's nursery, which looked after over 80 babies and young children, was also forced to close. A representative of affected families wrote to the BBC that some had lost both nursery and home. Others face arranging childcare at very short notice, or taking unpaid leave.
The developer, the council and the minister respond
Galliard Homes says independent structural engineers are looking into the concerns. The developer wants residents back in their flats once it is safe.
Newham Council says it owns the land under the five towers and has sent health and safety inspectors and buildings experts. The council says it is trying to help the most vulnerable residents, and that it is not automatically obliged to rehouse everyone who had to leave.
Housing minister Flo Eshalomi told the Commons on Monday that officials are supporting the council. They are also in contact with the developer and the warranty providers, to make sure they respond as swiftly as possible.
Our view
Much now rests on the engineers' findings and what they say about repairs. It is not yet clear how long residents will be out or who will pay for hotels and lost income.
Source: BBC News