Barton House evacuation: A week since Bristol residents left

The council said it could be three or four weeks until they know what action to take next

It is one week since about 300 adults and 100 children had to leave their homes after a major incident was declared over the safety of their tower block.

Residents from Barton House in Bristol packed their bags for a few nights and left the building seeking refuge with friends, in rest centres or hotels organised by Bristol City Council.

Measures to roll out a temporary emergency evacuation on 14 November were taken after a survey revealed the building would not be able to withstand any high impact, fire or explosion.

The council said Barton House, the city's oldest tower block, was built in a different way to other ones in Bristol, so it is not expecting the issue to be widespread.

At the moment, some people have refused to leave and remain in the building, others are staying at a Holiday Inn in the city centre and a small number are staying with family and friends.

The council is yet to make contact with one household in the block.

At the end of last week people protested at City Hall over the way the situation has been handled.

It is clear people have been rocked by the uncertainty of whether they will be able to go back to their homes and if not, what will happen next.

We caught up with some of the residents to see how they are doing.

'Left us in limbo'

Yasmin said since leaving home her son has not been eating properly

Resident Yasmin left the tower block with her disabled mum and one-year-old son and has been housed at the Holiday Inn.

She said they were all "knackered" and she was having to flannel wash her son as they did not have a bath.

"He's not sleeping, coping, eating. The first night I did not get one whole bottle of liquid in him," she said.

"He's used to his mum and family's home cooked food. To go from one type of food to a whole different type, it's draining.

"We just need to go back home. We want answers.

"They've [the council] just left us in limbo pretty much," she added.

'The children are scared'

Yousif (pictured right) said his children have been wearing the same clothes to school for the past few days

Yousif and his family have been living in a hotel room and going between friends houses to do laundry and eat food.

"The children have been scared. It's been really hard, honestly," he said.

"When you leave your home and go somewhere different it's completely stressful. You don't know what to do.

"When you're asked to leave your house you don't know what to take.

"As soon as I collect the children from school it's hard to see them still in the same clothes.

"If we were at home the kids would have rest but now since 7am in the morning the kids don't have rest until late in the evening."

'I'm at boiling point'

Ms Fisher said she does not want to give up her flat

Resident Ann Fisher has lived at Barton House since 1994 and said there is "no way" she will give up her home.

"I've nearly been there all my life," she said.

"Me and my late husband built our home there.

"The things that we built together. There's no way I'm going to give it up.

"I'm at boiling point. If the wrong person says something I could scream or just cry."

In their latest update, Bristol City Council said surveyors would carry out detailed work in Barton House over the next two or three weeks to confirm their earlier findings and recommend what to do next.

Three tenants have agreed to empty their properties and move their belongings into storage so the new surveys can be conducted.

Where can Barton House residents get help?

Bristol City Council has set up an emergency webpage for residents.

It said if people cannot stay with friends or family, cannot speak with its Housing team or need additional support, they can:

• call 0800 694 0184 (lines open 8:30 to 20:00 GMT)

• visit the council's Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street during its normal opening hours (9:00 to 17:00 GMT) or call 0117 922 2050 outside of working hours

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