Cladding danger to take months to sort - architect

Dozens of people who had to leave their homes at short notice after a fire inspection revealed dangerous cladding and issues with fire escapes could be out of their flats for months, an architect has said.

Police, fire and council workers moved to clear Barbourne Works in Worcester on Wednesday, with 52 adults and eight children suddenly finding themselves in need of somewhere else to stay.

Architect Frazer Bufton said the actual work to make the building safe would be relatively quick, but that it could take "months" to get all the arrangements in place.

Management firm First Port said concerns related to defects from when the former factory was converted 20 years ago.

Mr Bufton said: "In some ways, the actual work on site is probably not going to be a huge amount of time - I imagine you're talking about a few months if they can really get on with it, but it's getting everything else lined up."

What would take the time was "finding a contractor, agreeing a price, getting materials sourced, getting somebody on site, he said.

"It could be a considerable amount of time, I think - and also a considerable amount of cost, so that's all got to be balanced out - it's certainly going to be months."

One couple Ashley Gurr and Niamh Gillen, both 25, got home from work on Wednesday to discover they had to move out.

The couple had to pack what they could and went to stay with friends for the weekend, with no idea where they would go after that.

Describing how they had "absolutely no warning", Mr Gurr said it had been a shock to discover they had lived there for two years, only to discover now the building was unsafe.

Councillor Mel Allcott also said it came "out of the blue", but that with cladding and the fire escape routes both being an issue, the authorities "had to act".

Simon Cusack, group commander at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said issues were "essentially down to cladding" - a combination of timber cladding and an aluminium composite material, both of which were flammable.

The fire service also said there were concerns about residents getting out safely, if a fire broke out.

A prohibition notice placed on the building means it cannot be used for residential purposes until remedial works have taken place.

Managing agent First Port, a company appointed by Resident Management Company (RMC) to run the building, said safety was the "highest priority" and it would provide support and regular updates to residents.

The firm revealed the building had already been accepted on the government's Cladding Safety Scheme - a fund that addresses fire risks associated with cladding on residential buildings.

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