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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cladding removal halted on Salford tower blocks over 'unclear' advice | Cladding removal halted on Salford tower blocks over 'unclear' advice |
| (7 months later) | |
| Salix Homes suspends work as it calls for clearer guidance on safest way to replace panels in wake of Grenfell Tower fire | |
| Nazia Parveen and | |
| Josh Halliday | |
| Fri 7 Jul 2017 16.27 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 20.32 GMT | |
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| Plans to remove cladding from high-rise blocks in parts of the UK have been halted after complaints of “unclear” advice from the government. | Plans to remove cladding from high-rise blocks in parts of the UK have been halted after complaints of “unclear” advice from the government. |
| In Salford, Greater Manchester, Salix Homes has followed City West Housing Trust in halting work to remove cladding from buildings that failed the government fire safety tests that were ordered following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. | In Salford, Greater Manchester, Salix Homes has followed City West Housing Trust in halting work to remove cladding from buildings that failed the government fire safety tests that were ordered following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. |
| But the housing association said it was “acting in line” with other housing providers across the country, despite being ordered by the government to carry out the work. | But the housing association said it was “acting in line” with other housing providers across the country, despite being ordered by the government to carry out the work. |
| Eight tower blocks managed by Salix were among 29 in Salford that did not pass the combustibility tests. | Eight tower blocks managed by Salix were among 29 in Salford that did not pass the combustibility tests. |
| Information disclosed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) revealed Salford had the highest number of tower blocks failing the tests of any local authority area in England. | Information disclosed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) revealed Salford had the highest number of tower blocks failing the tests of any local authority area in England. |
| Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said the company needed clearer guidance about the safest way to replace affected cladding. | Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said the company needed clearer guidance about the safest way to replace affected cladding. |
| She added: “The cladding systems in place on all these blocks met all fire safety and building regulations when they were installed. | She added: “The cladding systems in place on all these blocks met all fire safety and building regulations when they were installed. |
| “Investigatory work began last week to remove cladding from our affected blocks, which has been temporarily replaced with aluminium panels to protect the building and ensure it remains watertight. | “Investigatory work began last week to remove cladding from our affected blocks, which has been temporarily replaced with aluminium panels to protect the building and ensure it remains watertight. |
| “However, government advice regarding the removal of cladding is now unclear. In line with other housing providers in Salford and across the country, we’ve now halted the removal of further cladding until we have clearer guidance from the authorities on the best and safest solution to replace the affected cladding.” | “However, government advice regarding the removal of cladding is now unclear. In line with other housing providers in Salford and across the country, we’ve now halted the removal of further cladding until we have clearer guidance from the authorities on the best and safest solution to replace the affected cladding.” |
| Meanwhile, at Thorn Court, the flagship tower block run by Pendleton Together on behalf of Salford city council, cladding appears to have only been removed from the bottom floor of the 22-storey building. | Meanwhile, at Thorn Court, the flagship tower block run by Pendleton Together on behalf of Salford city council, cladding appears to have only been removed from the bottom floor of the 22-storey building. |
| The council announced 12 days ago that cladding on the building had failed government safety tests. Two weeks ago the council announced that, as a precaution, it would strip nine tower blocks in Pendleton. | The council announced 12 days ago that cladding on the building had failed government safety tests. Two weeks ago the council announced that, as a precaution, it would strip nine tower blocks in Pendleton. |
| John Smith, who lives in Thorn Court and is a former head of the residents’ association, said tenants had not been told why work on the building had suddenly stopped. | John Smith, who lives in Thorn Court and is a former head of the residents’ association, said tenants had not been told why work on the building had suddenly stopped. |
| “The last we heard from Pendleton Together was on the 29th [of June],” he said. “It’s a total joke.” | “The last we heard from Pendleton Together was on the 29th [of June],” he said. “It’s a total joke.” |
| Angela Morgan, who lives on the 20th floor of Thorn Court, said she had been told at a residents’ meeting with a council official and a Pendleton Together worker that the fire brigade could only evacuate people up to the 15th floor. | Angela Morgan, who lives on the 20th floor of Thorn Court, said she had been told at a residents’ meeting with a council official and a Pendleton Together worker that the fire brigade could only evacuate people up to the 15th floor. |
| “I would like to get out of here. I’m not feeling good about it at all. The building is unsafe because it’s got cladding on it,” she said. | “I would like to get out of here. I’m not feeling good about it at all. The building is unsafe because it’s got cladding on it,” she said. |
| Morgan said the neighbouring high-rise, Spruce Court, which is also managed by Pendleton Together, had only had cladding removed from the bottom two rows of the building. | Morgan said the neighbouring high-rise, Spruce Court, which is also managed by Pendleton Together, had only had cladding removed from the bottom two rows of the building. |
| She added that extra patrols would be stepped up on the affected blocks, which were all partially cladded, to bolster existing safety arrangements. | She added that extra patrols would be stepped up on the affected blocks, which were all partially cladded, to bolster existing safety arrangements. |
| On Wednesday, City West Housing Trust confirmed it had suspended the removal of cladding from 12 high-rise blocks in Eccles which had failed the combustibility tests. | On Wednesday, City West Housing Trust confirmed it had suspended the removal of cladding from 12 high-rise blocks in Eccles which had failed the combustibility tests. |
| Tony Ormonde, 62, who lives in Cremer House – a City West property - accused the housing association and Salford city council of not acting quickly enough. | Tony Ormonde, 62, who lives in Cremer House – a City West property - accused the housing association and Salford city council of not acting quickly enough. |
| He said: “That cladding should have been off the buildings as soon as the decision was made that the cladding was unsafe. | He said: “That cladding should have been off the buildings as soon as the decision was made that the cladding was unsafe. |
| “There is a lot of anger ... People want to be satisfied that they are not going to burn in their beds, basically.” | “There is a lot of anger ... People want to be satisfied that they are not going to burn in their beds, basically.” |
| Greater Manchester fire and rescue service (GMFRS) says it has inspected 61 high-rise properties in the region that have either failed the fire test or have aluminium composite material cladding that needs a compliance inspection. | Greater Manchester fire and rescue service (GMFRS) says it has inspected 61 high-rise properties in the region that have either failed the fire test or have aluminium composite material cladding that needs a compliance inspection. |
| Geoff Harris, GMFRS’s director of prevention and protection, said: “Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has established a high-rise taskforce which will be going across the whole of Greater Manchester, building by building, to provide fire safety reassurance … If any resident is concerned about fire safety in their building or fire safety advice given, they should contact us.” | Geoff Harris, GMFRS’s director of prevention and protection, said: “Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has established a high-rise taskforce which will be going across the whole of Greater Manchester, building by building, to provide fire safety reassurance … If any resident is concerned about fire safety in their building or fire safety advice given, they should contact us.” |
| A government spokesman disputed the claim that advice was unclear. | A government spokesman disputed the claim that advice was unclear. |
| In a statement, a DCLG spokesman said: “The government advice is clear – any tall building where ACM cladding has been identified will have a fire risk assessment by the fire and rescue service. | In a statement, a DCLG spokesman said: “The government advice is clear – any tall building where ACM cladding has been identified will have a fire risk assessment by the fire and rescue service. |
| “Landlords in conjunction with fire services will then take decisions on building safety.” | “Landlords in conjunction with fire services will then take decisions on building safety.” |
| The DCLG maintains that composite aluminium cladding panels made with a polyethylene core do not comply with building regulations and should not be used on buildings over 18 metres high. But the department failed to explain how the product breached the code. | The DCLG maintains that composite aluminium cladding panels made with a polyethylene core do not comply with building regulations and should not be used on buildings over 18 metres high. But the department failed to explain how the product breached the code. |
| Grenfell Tower fire | |
| Social housing | |
| Salford | |
| Communities | |
| Greater Manchester | |
| Housing | |
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