Bristol residents' plea for Barton House tower block to be saved

An emergency evacuation was carried out at Barton House

Residents forced to leave Bristol's oldest tower block are calling for it to be saved so their community is "not consigned to the dustbin of history".

More than 400 council tenants were told to leave their flats in Barton House on 14 November due to safety fears.

A letter from Barton House Tenants Association was handed to Bristol City Council earlier.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said an update would be given to residents "by the weekend".

While a few tenants are still living in Barton House, most are now staying in a Holiday Inn hotel.

A survey which will determine whether the building will need to be knocked down is yet to be completed, meaning its future is uncertain.

'It is our home'

But a letter, which was presented at a full council meeting, said this had not deterred people from wanting to return to the tower block which "binds" their community together.

"It is not perfect, but it is our home," the letter said.

"We ask that if at all possible our community within the block is cherished and preserved and not consigned to the dustbin of local history," it added.

The letter detailed how residents previously saved the block from demolition under the New Deal For Communities scheme in 2003.

"We are a strong and united community that has been 65 years in the making. 

"Some of our community do wish to leave as they no longer feel safe in Barton House or any high-rise. We respect their opinion and wish to support them as well," the letter continued.

Marvin Rees said residents should get an update by the weekend

Mr Rees said the council was still waiting to receive and analyse an updated report into the structural integrity of the building.

"I do understand people are desperate to know the results of this work.

"We are continuing to plan for a number of scenarios," he said.

Mr Rees said residents would be informed first, "in order to avoid the chaotic scenes witnessed during the evacuation".

Around a dozen members of community union Acorn - who were at the council meeting representing residents of Barton House - shouted at Mr Rees before leaving the public gallery at City Hall.

The meeting was adjourned several times because of the disruption.

The Barton House emergency evacuation programme could cost the council £3.5m, which could rise if surveys show the building remains unsafe for people to return to.