Hazard notice for danger flats



Health and safety officers have confirmed the serious dangers of Ainsdale's deteriorating flats, by issuing a hazard notice.

Fears for the safety of residents living in the Sandbrook Way properties were initially raised by local councillor Brenda Porter, who then approached Sefton Council's Environmental Health to carry out an inspection. The council is not responsible for the properties, owned by a leaseholder who is out of the country and managed by a number of landlords.

An outhouse, which floods during rainfall, contains electricity mains to several of the flats, and has now received an Emergency Remedial Action Notice marking it as a category one hazard. Category one is the most serious of hazards, indicating an imminent risk of serious harm to the health and safety of people occupying the property.

Cllr Porter told Champnews.com: "Initially my concerns covered some of the properties, which were rapidly deteriorating, and with many of the young children living there suffering from damp related illnesses it was heartbreaking.

"However, after gaining access to the electricity room, attached to the properties, and paddling in water my fears grew that maybe local residents were not safe."

The Tory parliamentary candidate for Southport is now concerned over delays on providing the Environmental Protection Department's reports on the conditions of the properties and the way forward. She has now arranged for a meeting to take place next week to discuss the whole situation.

"There are young children living in the properties and that this is a serious situation and has to be treated accordingly. The whole area is pulling the rest of area down and children especially should not be living in such conditions in the 21st century."

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "Despite the flats not being our responsibility, we have been working with the local tenants over this issue for sometime.

"Electrical work to improve the safety of the flats started this week and should take about two weeks to complete."

By Natasha Young



Original article...

I wonder who owns these flats.

not sure know they are private

live a few streets away and to be honest don't envy the people who rent them.