Camden tower block resident, 72, ‘absolutely stressed’ by upheaval

A 72-year-old woman says she was forced to sit in a chair all night after being evacuated from her London tower block over safety fears.

Shirley Phillips was among thousands displaced from their north London homes on Friday evening after Camden Council began moving out residents from high-rise buildings.

With less than an hour’s notice, 650 homes were evacuated by officials, although 83 households refused to leave.

They were acting on fears similar cladding was used on the Chalcots Estate to Grenfell Tower in Kensington, which was engulfed by an inferno earlier this month leaving at least 79 dead or missing presumed dead.

On Saturday, Ms Phillips tackled Camden Council leader Georgia Gould over her plight.

In a heated exchange, the pensioner told Ms Gould she was "so absolutely stressed" by the upheaval.

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The second-floor resident of Taplow Tower asked: "Why were hotels not looked at before we were all evacuated?

"I’ve sat in a chair over here since nine o’clock last night, I’m 72 years old, suffer with emphysema.

"Now I’m being told they can’t rehouse me because I’ve got a dog. What do they want me to do with my dog? Put my dog to sleep?"

Ms Gould assured Ms Phillips the council could "definitely, definitely" find housing for her and her dog with more than 100 hotel rooms still available for residents.

She said the council "just had to act quickly" after being informed buildings were unsafe by the London Fire Brigade on Friday afternoon.

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Ms Phillips had previously told Sky News it was "absolutely disgusting" Camden Council had left it until late on Friday to start the evacuation.

She was one of a number of residents to voice their frustration at being asked to leave at short notice.

Edward Strange, who was told he had to vacate his home just as he arrived back from Heathrow Airport, said: "We’ve had two fires here since the new cladding has been put on and both did not spread.

"So I don’t really see what the problem is. It’s complete overreaction. It’s ridiculous."

Several residents told Sky News they found out what was going on from watching the news channel.

Among them was Steve, who lives on the fourth floor with his partner and two step daughters.

He said: "We look out the window and there are TV people everywhere. Mass hysteria. Surely Camden could do better than that.

"We’re not moving. We can’t just take all our family and stuff. I’ve got work on Monday morning. I’ve got stuff to do tomorrow.

"The Lions are playing tomorrow. I wanna watch that."

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Peter, a 94-year-old who has lived on the Chalcots Estate for 46 years, said: "(It’s) terrible. You don’t know whether you are coming or going. I was told tonight – pack everything for two to three weeks.

"I packed enough for a week. I didn’t have a lot of space left, with my medication and everything. I’ve got to have it."

Simon, who arrived with his dog, at a hastily-assembled refuge centre at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, described the situation as "an absolute nightmare" and "a shambles".

He said: "I cried and cried and cried. I love my flat. I moved in 24 years ago with cracks on the floor, paint falling from the ceiling.

"Three to four weeks is what they are currently guesstimating. I imagine it’s not much more than a guesstimate."

(c) Sky News 2017: Camden tower block resident, 72, ‘absolutely stressed’ by upheaval