Ipswich Cladiators raise fears after fire risks identified at Churchmans House

Alex Dickin, of Ipswich Cladiators, said it had been an "emotional rollercoaster" for people living in three separate blocks of flats

A housing campaigner has raised concerns that more than 200 families could need temporary accommodation after fire safety risks were identified at another block of flats in Ipswich.

A 24/7 patrol has started at Churchmans House after a report said there was a "high" fire risk there.

Residents have been evacuated from Cardinal Lofts due to fire safety and at St Francis Tower after flooding.

The borough council said it was monitoring the situation.

Cowan Architects' draft report identified there were no fire barriers in the top three storeys of Churchmans House in Portman Road.

It said the fire risk was "high and and not tolerable".

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said it was making "good progress" with those responsible for the building to address the risks, but the report warned that residents of apartments on the upper three storeys may have to leave while work is carried out.

A draft report said the fire risk at Churchmans House, next to Ipswich Town's stadium on Portman Road, was "high and not tolerable"

Alex Dickin, from residents' group Ipswich Cladiators, said the report was "really concerning" but "not surprising" as Churchmans House and Cardinal Lofts were built by the same developer, which went into liquidation and was dissolved in 2016.

He said Churchmans House residents were "really concerned" about their future and safety at the building.

"With the number of people who are in temporary accommodation, we have to have a serious think about available rental accommodation for these people.

"There are 80 flats empty in Cardinal Lofts, 116 flats empty in St Francis Tower and now potentially looking ahead at Churchmans House, you've got another 29 flats which potentially could be evacuated and could require temporary rental accommodation," he said.

Cardinal Lofts in Ipswich was fully evacuated in March due to fire safety risks

Three floors of Cardinal Lofts were initially evacuated in November after a report said they were "unsafe for occupation". The building was then fully evacuated in March.

People living in St Francis Tower, which has been shrouded in plastic sheeting for years, had to leave their homes after a flood earlier this month.

St Francis Tower, which was been wrapped in plastic for a number of years, was evacuated earlier this month due to flooding

Mr Dickin said it had been an "emotional rollercoaster" for people living all of the blocks of flats.

"We've seen so many scenarios play out across different buildings in Ipswich, we're constantly worried if we're going to follow the same pattern, if we're going to be living behind plastic for years, or are we going to be evacuated for a long period of time?

"We need as much support as possible," he said.

• What happens to people forced out of flats?

• Flats given go-ahead despite fire risk - report

• 'I jumped out of the frying pan into the fire'

Mr Dickin said it was understood the 24/7 waking watch at Churchmans House was currently being paid out of a leaseholders' reserve fund.

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson said: "This is primarily a matter for the leaseholders, managing agent and freeholder of Churchmans.

"The council is monitoring the situation and is ready to offer emergency assistance if the managing agent or freeholder fail in their duty to offer alternative accommodation. The council is aware that there is already significant demand for interim accommodation in the town."

The BBC has approached the freeholder of the building for comment but has had no response.