Pregnant woman among 60 told to leave Worcester cladding risk flats

An eight-month pregnant woman is among 60 residents, including children, who had to leave their homes suddenly because of cladding fire dangers.

Ferni, 36, Evans and her husband, Neil, 43, and their five-year-old son are currently with family after Barbourne Works in Worcester was evacuated without warning last week.

Managing agents First Port said its priority had been finding people accommodation for the weekend, but said: “We are also exploring longer-term arrangements and available options should they become necessary.”

On Friday, an architect told the BBC people could be away from their homes for months.

Issues with cladding and fire escape routes were highlighted by a fire inspection last week.

First Port has previously said the problems dated back 20 years to when the former factory was converted into flats.

“My family will let us stay here for as long as we like, but my wife would like to have some sort of temporary accommodation for when the baby comes,” Mr Evans said.

“Even with two spare bedrooms, it’s going to be difficult to have two children and my parents here.”

He added that he had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder three years ago and now he felt he was “spiralling downwards”.

The couple own their flat at the apartment block, which is now under a prohibition notice issued by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

The prospect of never being allowed back was terrifying to him, he added.

Army veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, are at a Travelodge at Droitwich, with their 14-year-old son and two cats. They are due to get married next week.

He said none of them had any privacy, the cats were “beside themselves” and they could not store food, or cook, or wash clothes.

On Friday, he and his son were sitting in the car until 17:15 BST waiting to know where they were going to stay that night.

“All we know is that tomorrow we face the same thing again,” he said.

“They’ve not told us any long-term plans, any provisions for suitable accommodation, just that we’ve got a hotel until Tuesday morning.”

Mr Sherwin, who was in the army for 16 years and has PTSD, said the whole situation was distressing and he had been struggling with his mental health.

The couple do not have family locally or money to make their own arrangements, he said, and are now unable to get ready for their wedding day.

“The uncertainty is the worst bit,” he said, adding that knowing they had accommodation for just one or two weeks would relieve the stress.

Ashley Gurr and Niamh Gillen first stayed with friends and went to the Travelodge on Friday.

Ms Gillen, a care assistant, said the couple had been told they only had their hotel room until Tuesday, adding: “Then we’re in the dark.”

Both had taken Tuesday off work, she said, adding: “If I’m there for 12 hours, I can’t be on the phone ringing people, ringing First Port, trying to work out where I’m going to be.”

The couple rent their apartment at Barbourne Works and Ms Gillen said: “Even if we do go back, we feel lied to, almost, because we’ve been in an accommodation that’s been unsafe, for about two years living there.

“We want to move anyway really, because it’s almost scary to go back in.”

A spokesperson for First Port said: “We understand how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority, and we are committed to working with all parties to provide ongoing support and regular updates as we address the issues raised.

“Our priority has been to ensure accommodation is in place for residents over the coming weekend. We are also exploring longer-term arrangements and available options should they become necessary.”

Last week, First Port, which is a management agent appointed by Residential Management Company (RMC), revealed that before the inspection, the building had already been accepted into the government’s Cladding Safety Scheme.

The company said it was not known how long temporary relocation may be required, but it would keep residents updated.