CALLS for an investigation have sounded to explain what happened when a block of flats had to be evacuated due to generators pumping out ‘poisonous’ carbon monoxide.
Buckinghamshire Council is being asked to pressure housing provider The Guinness Partnership for a report on an incident at Candleford Court, in Buckingham, on January 29.
Almost 100 flats were evacuated due to “high carbon monoxide (CO) levels…caused by generators in the previously flooded basement car park,” Bucks Fire and Rescue said.
RESIDENT: "The generators were left running down in the garage”
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The incident started when a domestic CO alarm was triggered in a flat, the council said.
One resident claimed ‘cleaning crews may or may not have left the generators running’, but they cannot be certain.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury said the incident is “totally unacceptable”.
“At about 3.30pm this afternoon (Jan 29) the generators were left running down in the garage,” said one resident.
“There were crews down here this morning cleaning. It looks like maybe one of those crews may or may not have made a mistake and left the generators running.
“The garage filled up with carbon monoxide so they’ve had to evacuate everybody who lives down here on the ground floor because there’s a possibility we could all basically be poisoned.”
They said a Guinness surveyor was on site “almost immediately”.
Adding: “It would be nice if somebody from the council was able to contact Guinness, and obviously the residents, to see if we can get a report to explain why this has happened.”
GUINNESS: "We are very sorry for the concern caused to residents"
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Cllr Stuchbury also called for a public report, adding: “This sort of incident is totally unacceptable and putting people’s lives at risk…through error or malpractice cannot go unchallenged and unreported.”
He added: “Thank goodness we’ve got professional emergency services who step in during such circumstances to protect residents.”
A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Council said: “Officers from Buckinghamshire Council’s housing and environmental health teams attended on the afternoon of Friday 29th to assess requirements and to support any immediate needs as a result of evacuation.
“Environmental health has now reported the incident to the health and safety executive (HSE) for further investigation and will assist with this as required.
“An allegation made regarding the building’s fire alarm system has been referred to the Buckinghamshire Fire Service.
“Buckinghamshire Council’s environmental health will follow up as required with the HSE, Fire Service and The Guinness Partnership.”
A spokesperson for The Guinness Partnership said: “We have had contractors working to dry out the basement following the recent flooding. We are still gathering information into the release of carbon monoxide. We have suspended works temporarily.
“We are very sorry for the concern caused to residents and extend our gratitude to the fire service for ensuring the building was safe to return to later on Friday evening.”
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