Residents return amid Edinburgh tenement structural fears
Residents were evacuated from the Anchorfield tenement last month
- Published
Residents evacuated from an Edinburgh tenement block over structural fears said they are still facing an uncertain future, despite some being allowed to move back into their homes.
Eight of the 12 flats in the Anchorfield building on Lindsay Road, Newhaven, have been deemed safe to return to after concerns were raised over a crack on an external wall.
The City of Edinburgh Council has denied that work on the capital's new tram line was to blame.
However some residents remain locked out while engineers carry out investigations.
Those living in the block have now been handed a copy of a council report on the building.
The local authority said engineers had identified corroded metalwork and damage to an iron bracket as the source of the problem.
Council leader Cammy Day said speculation that work on the tram stop opposite was to blame for causing the hairline crack was "unhelpful".
A separate investigation into that claim is under way.
Council leader Cammy Day denied Edinburgh's tram project was responsible for the the building's issues
Mr Day said the crack had been caused by a "long-standing construction issue".
He added the council would be on hand to "advise" residents on repair work, but ultimately it was up to them and their insurers to finance the project.
He said: "It’s a structural defect that relates to the original build potentially as far back as the 1800s.
"There’s no evidence of any impact of the tram works and I hope today draws a line under that.
"I would encourage people who have concerns and live in buildings of this age to get them surveyed as well."
The council leader added the building's problem was "hidden beneath rock and stone".
'Furry creature'
Residents were told to leave on 22 January after being given just an hour to gather possessions.
Scaffolding was then erected around the 1890s sandstone block as part of the investigative works.
The Prom Bar, on the ground floor of the building, was also closed, while a launderette and a takeaway were shut.
Four of the properties which contain bay windows have not yet been deemed safe enough to enter and remain closed off.
Liesanne Craib was allowed to move back in to her flat on Friday.
Liesanne Craib rents a property in the Anchorfield building with her husband.
The couple, who have lived there since last April, were not even given time to take items out of their fridge before leaving the flat last month.
She said they were "relieved" to return home, but added they were concerned about what the future holds.
Ms Craib told BBC Scotland News: "Having your home left behind and not being able to sleep in your own bed at night is difficult.
"It was a big relief to get the news this week that we were coming back.
"At the time we didn’t know the power would be turned off and we left things in our fridge.
"We didn’t take our compost out so it looked like there was a furry creature in there."
She said residents were trying to sort out how to move forward with their insurers but it was a "step by step process".
Ms Craib said: "Obviously people are facing immense cost in terms of getting a permanent repair and just what that means is quite stressful.
“We need to establish what the cause is.
"We have our suspicions, people say it is different things, but until they find the cause, I don’t think they will be able to do a permanent fix."