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s wearing a blue t-shirt, stands next to Elaine Shaw, who has ash-blonde hair, wearing a green blouse and glasses. They are standing in front of the block of flats with parked cars behind them.”>BBC
Knowsley Council confirmed on Monday that it had taken the decision to “re-house” everyone in the buildings and ensure they had alternative accommodation.
Council leader Thomas O’Reilly said the council had funded these costs through using its reserves and expected to be successful in applying for further government funding to cover them.
“It’s not the leaseholders’ fault that they have been in this position,” he said. “They bought their flats in good faith and now find themselves in this position. Our priority now is to support those people.”
It is not yet clear when the buildings will be vacated by all their remaining residents, or what will happen to them afterwards.
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In a shocking revelation, it has been disclosed that up to £1 million in tenants’ and taxpayers’ money has been spent attempting to prevent two dangerous blocks of flats, Beech Rise and Willow Rise in Kirkby, Merseyside, from being closed down. Due to severe fire safety concerns, the flats were set to be shut down on Monday, leaving all residents homeless. The residents of these refurbished former council blocks turned luxury apartments have experienced significant challenges, including plummeting property values and the burden of costly repairs and asbestos removal.
The situation has shed light on a broken leasehold system that has left residents feeling abandoned and victimized. Despite initially purchasing the apartments for upwards of £100,000 each in 2007, tenants have been left grappling with mounting costs and inadequate maintenance. The responsibility for addressing fire safety issues has fallen onto their shoulders, further exacerbating their financial strain. The residents’ management committee attempted to rectify the situation by raising funds for necessary safety measures, only to face mismanagement, incomplete work, and continued building deterioration.
Following a series of ownership transfers and managerial changes involving multiple offshore companies and high-profile investors, Knowsley Council was forced to intervene by providing 24-hour safety patrols at a substantial cost. Efforts by leaseholders like Mike Jones and Elaine Shaw to improve the buildings’ conditions ultimately proved futile, leading to their resignation in light of non-negotiable fire safety concerns. Knowsley Council has now taken the responsibility of rehousing all affected residents, signaling a much-needed shift in prioritizing the well-being of those impacted by the building’s closure
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