Three homes have had to be evacuated after a wall collapsed next to a block of flats – but residents say they are being “fobbed off” by a housing association.
A retaining wall buckled next to Temple Gate, a block of flats in Temple End, High Wycombe, on Saturday – and because it is now unsafe, those living in three flats next to the wall have had to be moved into a hotel in the town while it is fixed.
But resident Tina Burvill, who lives there with her partner – both of whom suffer with health problems – has criticised housing association L&Q for a lack of action after she first reported the dangerous 8ft wall on Saturday.
Tina had to call the fire brigade out because she did not know what to do – but she said L&Q only started to take the problem seriously late on Tuesday, when residents were evacuated to Travelodge.
She said the Travelodge is not a suitable place for them to stay – because her partner needs to keep her vital medications in the fridge and the room does not have one.
Describing the incident that started the fiasco, Tina said: “On Saturday I heard a bang and then the wall was cracking. I had to call the fire brigade because I just didn’t know what to do. What would happen to us if it fell down?
“L&Q went to have a look at it on Monday, but they had just left it over the weekend. There is rubble and bricks everywhere. We’re right next to the railway line and if a freight train went by, God knows what might happen to the wall. We already can’t put pictures up on our wall because of the vibrations.”
On Tuesday, Tina and her neighbours were told to pack a bag because they were being evacuated to a hotel – but they have not been given any money for food.
She said: “We are supposed to get £10 a day for food, but will be getting it in arrears – we don’t have the money to spend on eating out every day when we have a fridge and freezer full of food at home.
“We also need a fridge for medication. We feel trapped in a tiny, hot hotel room.”
Tina – who has been pleading with L&Q to move her elsewhere for months amid a string of issues with the property – said even a bedsit owned by the housing association would be better for them to live in temporarily instead of the hotel.
She said: “We have had enough. The room is so hot we can’t sleep.”
A spokesman for L&Q said the damaged wall is being treated as a “matter of urgency” and apologised to residents.
They said: “The safety of our residents and other people is L&Q’s top priority. “The damage was reported to us on Saturday and an L&Q operative went to inspect the wall that evening. It was discovered that part of a retaining wall outside the property had collapsed as a result of bad weather and subsidence.
“The fire service cordoned off the area as a safety precaution, and a structural engineer is on site today [Tuesday] to thoroughly inspect the wall and advise what remedial work is needed.
“We have now put robust security fencing and warning signs along the length of the wall.
“Three families from the neighbouring block of flats have been rehoused temporarily.
“As soon as the engineer has reported back to us, we will take all necessary steps to ensure the wall and surrounding area is made completely safe.”
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