London,
24
June
2017
|
14:00
Europe/London

Council Leader announces initial support fund for evacuated residents

15.10 update

Camden Council has unveiled an initial support package to help residents evacuated from Chalcots Estate.

Council Leader Councillor Georgia Gould has committed £100,000 of council funds to pay for evacuated residents' food and refreshments and any essential items they may need. This adds to the £500,000 the Council has already spent on hotel rooms for residents.

The Council has also clarified the process for securing temporary accommodation and reiterated in the strongest terms the need for all residents in Taplow, Bray, Dorney and Burnham to evacuate their homes.

Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council, said: “We’re committed to looking after all our evacuated residents. This afternoon I’ve made money available to pay for residents' food, drinks and any necessary items they require over the weekend.

“We’re encouraging evacuated residents to stay with family and friends if at all possible. If that’s not possible, we want to fill up all the hotels rooms we’ve secured for tonight – to get booked into one of these rooms residents should email [email protected]

“I want to reiterate that both the Council and the London Fire Brigade advise in the strongest possible terms that any remaining residents in Taplow, Bray, Dorney and Burnham should evacuate their blocks and take up one of our temporary accommodation options, as this is the safest place for you to be. Keeping our residents safe is our number one priority."

“There are various legal routes that Camden Council could explore to require people to leave their homes – however, we really don’t want to do this. We want to work with residents who are yet to evacuate and strongly encourage them to leave their homes and fix up temporary accommodation. We need to get the buildings empty so we can work with our partners to start the work to make these tower blocks safe, so that everyone can return to their normal lives as soon as possible.”

To arrange accommodation:

  • Residents should email [email protected] as this is the best way to arrange temporary accommodation. All evacuated residents should email whether or not they have already secured temporary accommodation, stating their name, address and current temporary accommodation status. This will help us keep a register of where everyone is.
  • We have spaces available in hotel rooms tonight. To secure one, email [email protected] with your details or visit Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre to register and talk to our teams there.
  • The rest centre at the Camden Centre in King’s Cross has now closed. The rest centre in Swiss Cottage remains open.
  • If you organised your own hotel room last night/ tonight, please keep your invoice. We will pay for your costs. However, please email [email protected] with your details and current accommodation status, so we can arrange  medium- term accommodation for you.
  • If you want to collect possessions from your home, you can do so today (Saturday). Please go back to you block, where security staff will meet you. Security staff will guide you into the building, helping you to carry heavy items. You will have around 30 minutes to pick up the items you need.

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Dan Daly said:

"Our highly trained Inspecting Officers, working very closely with Camden Council, yesterday determined that essential works are required in these four buildings on the Charcot Estate. We appreciate the inconvenience residents have experienced and that such immediate action will have an impact on all those involved.

"Camden Council have acted swiftly and we will continue to work with them as they make the necessary renovations in these buildings. Working with local authorities and other housing providers we need to do everything we can to ensure the safety of the people we are all here to serve.”

Prayers tonight at the leisure centre

Imams will be coming to Swiss Cottage Leisure centre to lead prayers tonight, as residents prepare for Eid.

Blashford Tower not being evacuated

The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that Blashford Tower does not need to be evacuated. This is because several design elements in this block, such as fire doors, differ from the other four blocks on the estate. A letter is being delivered to residents in the Blashford block which you can download here.

ENDS

Further information

The Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre is currently in use as a rest centre for residents who have been evacuated from their homes. To keep up to date on when it will open again please check the GLL website for updates http://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/camden/swiss-cottage-leisure-centre/alerts/10537)

Previous statements 

24 June 2017 Update 10:00am Evacuation of Chalcots Estate - Leader statement

24 June 2017 Council Leader tells of concerted effort to carry out fire safety work through the night

24 June 2017 Fire Brigade confirm that there is no need to evacuate Blashford Tower

24 June 2017  Leader of the council updates on Chalcots Estate operation

23 June 2017  Evacuation of Chalcots Estate - Leader statement

23 June 2017; Statement from Borough Fire Commander on fire safety work at the Chalcots Estate