Residents worried over cladding on fire-hit flats

Harsha Kunku says that his child was terrified of the sound of fire alarms

Residents returning to a fire-hit block of flats have said they are worried that flammable cladding remains on the building.

Nearly 300 people were evacuated from Mosaic Apartments in Slough on 22 August, with many spending months in hotels and temporary accommodation.

Building work is still taking place at the block, with an area of flammable cladding due to be removed in January.

The freeholder of the building, Wallace Estates, said: "The safety of residents remains our priority and is under constant review."

Rekha Raju's baby is due this month, but she has given one month's notice to leave her home because she doesn't feel safe.

She said: "I do need to find a new place since I am pregnant, I am due this month, I have already told my landlord."

Residents say they feel uneasy that construction work is still ongoing

"It was four months of frustration" Mrs Raju said, after being moved multiple times before finally being placed in an apartment in Heathrow.

"We felt homeless to be honest, carrying stuff to one place to the other.

"It was the most horrendous [time] in my life."

She said, along with her husband, she was concerned about the flammable cladding and the ongoing building work in the apartment.

"I'm leaving because I can't stay here anymore, it's not very safe," she said.

"If anything wrong happens while I am alone in this apartment – if my husband is away I will be in trouble."

Amana Farhan said she felt anxious knowing there was still cladding on the building

Fellow resident Amana Farhan said: "Why is there still cladding knowing the residents will be returning, they had four months to do that, what were they doing?"

Harsha Kunku has also returned home with his wife and child, and said living in a hotel for four months with his young family was tough.

He said his daughter was traumatised after the fire, and became "very scared" whenever she heard a fire alarm.

"We had to reassure her and try and educate her and she is confident now," he said.

"Finally things are falling into place again."

But he said he was still concerned about the cladding, and added: "I don't know why it hasn't been removed... It's kind of worrisome."

In a statement Wallace Estates said: "We have been working as quickly as possible, the extent of the fire safety defects means that some work is still ongoing.

"The safety of residents remains our priority and is under constant review."

It added that there would be a round-the-clock "waking watch" is to ensure the safety of the residents while work was being carried out.