Red Willow council home in the Katherines restored after fire and ready for family to move in
General / Wed 25th Oct 2023 at 11:03am
Red Willow council home restored after fire
A COUNCIL home in Red Willow, (Katherines)which was gutted by fire, has been restored and is now ready for the family to move back in.
After the fire – caused by a faulty electrical device – back in July 2022, which was attended by Essex Fire and Rescue Service, structural engineers attended to assess the building’s stability. Once it was established it could be repaired, a full specification was developed to bring the property back up to standard so that the family who lived there could return.
As part of the repairs programme:
- A full rewire was carried out
- Structural works were carried out to roof timbers and roof tiles and insulation was replaced
- Plumbing was renewed and a new kitchen and bathroom were installed
- All ceilings and wall plaster were reinstated
- New internal doors and frames were installed throughout
- The property received a full redecoration
- The internal communal space around the property was also redecorated
All works are now complete ready for the residents to move back in.
Councillor David Carter, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, said:
“Whilst this was a terrible incident for the family involved, it was good news that no one was hurt and I am pleased we have been able to get their home back up to a liveable standard and hope that they are happy with the results as they move back in.
“This incident also highlights the ever-present need for fire safety, something which Harlow Council takes very seriously to ensure residents are and feel safe in their homes.”
For more information about fire safety and advice on reducing risk in your home, visit https://www.harlow.gov.uk/housing-and-garages/house-safety/fire-safety
Nicholas Taylor
2023-10-25 13:04:21
Absolutely right Phil, just another opportunity for the Tories to pat themselves on the back. Well trodden procedures used by housing management staff for decades, whether due to fire or flood. I wonder how long it took from fire to the tenant moving back in? Nicholas Taylor, former Housing Manager at Harlow Council.
Bruce Downey
2023-10-25 15:56:38
N Taylor, Yes, housing manager back in the bad old days of Labour..says it all, who care more for their employees (office staff, who seem to have a job for life, and HTS) then the down trodden residents. end of.
Nicholas Taylor
2023-10-25 17:08:39
Trying to re-write history Bruce.? Were you a tenant of the Council back in the 1970's 1980's 1990's and 2000's then? In those days Council properties were repaired and painted every 5 years, there were over 70 gardeners maintaining the green spaces around the town, second generation residents would be provided with a home within weeks of getting married, you could meet staff in your local neighbourhood office to sort out issues. The social fabric of this town went downhill as soon as the Tories cut in half the money given to councils in the early 1990's. The staff were dedicated in trying to help residents, most lived in the town and indeed many were themselves council tenants. I often did not agree with the politics of many of the Councillors but those like Mavis Carter, Jean McAlpine, Jean Clarke and Rene Morris all did their best to make this town a better place to live.
Mrs Tina Cooper
2023-10-25 17:10:12
It’s a shame that Harlow council don’t tell the truth as the redecoration of the lobby internally was charged to the 3 flats (privately owned on ground floor ) at the sun of £1,538 each and the fact that I live underneath this flat and was refused a safety check on my electrics to this day and there is no fire door on the back entrance of the flats either !!! I have been through hell with the renevations too and had a flood from above that non one wants to take responsibility for !!! So Harlow council need to think about what they put in writing !!! Also don’t portray about fire safety it’s a joke !!!!!
Mrs Tina Cooper
2023-10-25 17:10:42
It’s a shame that Harlow council don’t tell the truth as the redecoration of the lobby internally was charged to the 3 flats (privately owned on ground floor ) at the sun of £1,538 each and the fact that I live underneath this flat and was refused a safety check on my electrics to this day and there is no fire door on the back entrance of the flats either !!! I have been through hell with the renevation too and had a flood from above that non one wants to take responsibility for !!! So Harlow council need to think about what they put in writing !!! Also don’t portray about fire safety it’s a joke !!!!!
Mrs Tina Cooper
2023-10-25 17:11:21
It’s a shame that Harlow council don’t tell the truth as the redecoration of the lobby internally was charged to the 3 flats (privately owned on ground floor ) at the sun of £1,538 each and the fact that I live underneath this flat and was refused a safety check on my electrics to this day and there is no fire door on the back entrance of the flats either !!! I have been through hell with the renevating too and had a flood from above that non one wants to take responsibility for !!! So Harlow council need to think about what they put in writing !!! Also don’t portray about fire safety it’s a joke !!!!!
Mrs Tina Cooper
2023-10-25 17:11:56
It’s a shame that Harlow council don’t tell the truth as the redecoration of the lobby internally was charged to the 3 flats (privately owned on ground floor ) at the sun of £1,538 each and the fact that I live underneath this flat and was refused a safety check on my electrics to this day and there is no fire door on the back entrance of the flats either !!! I have been through hell with the work too and had a flood from above that non one wants to take responsibility for !!! So Harlow council need to think about what they put in writing !!! Also don’t portray about fire safety it’s a joke !!!!!
Peter Henegan
2023-10-25 17:13:42
Nicholas, are council houses insured externally (as one would hope private houses are) or are councils considered to have enough resources not to need insurance. Or is it down to the tenant?
Nicholas Taylor
2023-10-25 18:22:51
Hi Peter, Like any good landlord the structure of Council homes will be insured. From my experience delays in getting work done is often due to the time it takes to get the insurers to agree the programme of work needed to get the home re-occupied and a contractor employed if specialist work is needed. Tenants are encouraged to take out their own insurance to cover for their lost possessions. It is not clear from what has been said as to whether this was subject to an insurance claim or indeed whether someone was at fault, I am very surprised to hear of Mrs Coopers complaint about having to make a payment and that work has not been completed to her satisfaction.
Nicholas Taylor
2023-10-25 18:26:31
Hi Peter, having said what I said, it may be the case that the Council have decided to take the risk and not insure their homes. I understand that they may have taken the risk in respect of damage to homes caused by trees. Perhaps Cllr Carter could enlighten us?
Teresa Shaw
2023-10-27 08:32:38
I live next door to the fire the smoke and soot travelled through my loft and into my neighbors the other side, had to go through my insurance to have the loft flooring and insulation removed as well as all that was stored there. Lived through hell while they did the work taking over a year , the roof workers didn’t care wrapped the plastic around our aerial so we lost tv stations the damp in our bedrooms had to be treated and rooms decorated,cement dropped from the roof workers into my garden and the list goes on,also the gas was never properly checked was told it could have blown up at any time when they come to check, so saying how they’ve done is an insult to the neighbors.
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