The Council and their contractors were ready to start works by late March/April time. Unfortunately, the Coronavirus and UK Government restrictions on employment, trade and everyday life prevented these works from being undertaken. Now restrictions are being eased and various industries are returning to work we intend to resume this priority work project as soon as practicable. We anticipate works to begin soon after 1st June 2020.
The details of the issues that put your safety at risk are specified in the notice displayed in the communal area on the ground floor of your building. In brief, these issues are in relation to fire safety and they affect the communal escape routes from the building.
Only those who own a flat or part of the building will be liable to pay. Any tenant renting their flat from a private landlord will not need to pay for these works.
The full cost of these works cannot be calculated until they are completed and therefore an accurate figure cannot be provided at this point. On completion of all works you will be notified of the amount you will be expected to pay. This is estimated to be in the region of £1,500 per flat.
You will be notified in writing once any payment is due. This will include information about ways in which you can pay.
You may only appeal once a ‘notice of emergency remedial action’ has been issued to you. This will include all information about your right to appeal and how to appeal the Council’s decision within the document. This document will be served following any works commencing. This is expected to be in January 2020.
In the meantime, should you wish to make a formal complaint about how the Council have conducted themselves in this matter you may do so:
- online by using the form at the bottom of the page on website (https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/customer-feedback/make-complaint)
- in person by visiting the Civic Centre
- in writing addressed to the Complaints Manager at: City of Wolverhampton Council Civic Centre St. Peter's Square Wolverhampton WV1 1SH
We are acting on a Government instruction to investigate fire safety in buildings throughout Wolverhampton just like yours. As with all buildings of a certain age, we anticipate there may be deficiencies present. However, without carrying out a full inspection of the building we are unable to advise you until afterwards.
Update 18.12.2019
Following the inspection of 16th December 2019. In brief, these issues are in relation to fire safety and they affect the communal escape routes from the building.
The works proposed only relate to the communal areas of the building except for two flats in the ground floor lobby opposite the lift doors. The two flats described will need to have their front entrance door sets replaced.
The safety impact caused by this flat is due to the design of the ground floor, which is not the fault of either the occupant or leaseholder of this flat.
The safety impact caused by these flats is due to the design of the ground floor, which is not the fault of either the occupants or owners of these flats.
Fire safety in the communal areas of St Cecilia’s impacts on everybody living in or visiting the building and so the proposed works directly improve your safety.
Further, the Council should not need to intervene in a privately owned property. Due to the significance of the fire safety deficiencies found, the Council have a legal duty to take an appropriate course of action. In taking a course of action to deal with safety issues, the Council reserve the right to recover these costs.
There is no good or convenient time to inform you of planned works and their associated costs. However, the Council is committed to your health and safety and so are taking their Government instruction seriously. We apologise for any inconvenience or concerns caused.
For the purpose of the works planned, the communal areas include the entrance on the ground floor, the lobbies, corridors, stairwells, lifts and all other areas excluding flats right through the building to the top floor.
All occupants in the building and all flat / building owners have been informed. We have additionally informed the appointed manager for the building, Pennycuick Collins.
Refusing entry to the Council team at the time of appointments to carry out any works is a criminal act.
The works will not require you to move out of the building. In the unlikely event that circumstances change once works have commenced, you will be informed of this.
If any costs are due, they will be charged to all property owners within the building at the time of making the charge. Whoever owns a property in the building at that time would be liable to pay.
The works will be carried out on behalf of the Council by Wolverhampton Homes and their appointed contractors.
This information can be provided to you via email or post. Please leave your contact details and your enquiry will be passed to the Private Sector Homes team.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System is a risk assessment tool used by Councils to assess the impact on health and safety of defects or deficiencies in residential buildings.
Further information on HHSRS.
As the Council’s inspection has identified significant hazards, we are under a legal duty to take an appropriate course of action to reduce the risk to residents of St Cecilia’s.
Lifts
It is not anticipated that the lifts will be out of use during the works. Should they need to be temporarily taken out of use, you will be notified of this in advance as far as is reasonably practicable.
Stairs
Some areas of the stairs will be taken out of action during works to the doors that open directly onto them and when ventilation works are carried out to the stairwell itself. You will be notified of this in advance as far as is reasonably practicable.
Main Entrance
It is not anticipated that the main entrance doors will be taken out of use throughout the course of the works. In the unlikely event that they need to be temporarily taken out of use, you will be notified of this in advance as far as is reasonably practicable.
It is anticipated that these works may take around 2-3 months to be completed. You will be informed of any changes to this timescale.
Following inspection by West Midlands Fire Service and Wolverhampton City Council, the building does not meet a threshold for prohibiting the buildings use for occupation at this current time. Both the Council and West Midlands Fire Service are striving to resolve fire safety issues within the building as soon as possible.
We encourage all residents who have not already received ‘safe and well’ advice to call West Midland Fire Service’s ‘safe and well’ team for advice on fire safety in your flat on 0800 389 5525
We advise all residents to pay attention to any matters relating to fire safety in the communal areas such as accumulations of waste, disrepair to doors, doors being propped open or otherwise. Please report your concerns to Pennycuick Collins on 0121 452 833, 0121 456 1700 or out of hours on 0121 728 9679 and if in an emergency call 999.
For all enquiries please email Saint.cecilias@wolverhampton.gov.uk