Latest news with #ChrisVince
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Harlow MP's concern over homes built in converted office blocks
Questions must be asked about the suitability of housing people in converted office blocks, an MP followed 23 families becoming the latest to be evacuated from their flats in Harlow, Essex, over fire concerns on lived in one of 12 former office blocks that were transformed into 1,000 homes in the town under permitted development MP Chris Vince said it was "absolutely a concern" that more people could lose their homes due to the "quick fix" builds. A resident living in Redstone House told the BBC he felt "so destroyed" after being told to leave on Thursday, after a prohibition notice was June 2024, the Essex fire service said there was a "threat to life" in Joseph Rank House and ordered people living in 44 flats to vacate were both converted under permitted development rights, which grant powers to turn offices into residential premises without planning permission. "It would be fair to question whether these developments were really suitable, particularly for families," Vince said."Part of the problem in Harlow is a lot of them were built at the same time, so now they're all falling apart at the same time."I wouldn't describe it as a ticking time bomb, but it's something we need to monitor and be aware of." 'Quick fixes' The MP said he feared some families had been let down over promises made about the BBC previously reported some families had to eat, drink and sleep in their beds in Terminus House due to cramped living continued: "There is a bigger question here about the suitability of some office block conversions."He said the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex had assured him the town's large developments were regularly monitored."There is absolutely a concern something like this could happen again," Vince added."The answer is we need to build proper, purpose-built houses, rather than these quick fixes, in order to tackle the housing crisis." Vince's concerns are similar to those raised by his Conservative predecessor, Robert Halfon, who said Harlow was a "prime location" for this he suggested the town had experienced an "influx" of people, mostly from London, and the outcome had been "catastrophic"."The 'rabbit-hutch' housing developments have become a hive of criminal activity and drug abuse, placing huge pressures on our local police, A&E and social services," Halfon said in have been offering reassurances to people living in high-rise blocks in Harlow since the latest incident at Redstone manager Dave Bond said he wanted people to know their safety was his "top priority"."Our teams are going door-to-door in high-rise blocks in Harlow, making sure residents understand their building's evacuation plan, have working smoke alarms, and know how to book a free home safety visit," he Bond encouraged all residents to ask their landlord for an escape route if they were not aware of one. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pupils 'taught in marquees' at safety-risk school
School pupils have been taught in "marquees and Portakabins" for more than a year due to safety fears, an MP warned. Teaching at Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Harlow, Essex, has been repeatedly disrupted since September 2023. The town's Labour MP Chris Vince said the school was deemed "unsafe", despite its brand new building opening four years ago. When responding to Vince in the House of Commons, Education Minister Stephen Morgan said he was working to find a "permanent solution". A survey concluded the school needed to be demolished as it may not be able to withstand an extreme weather event. Parents have previously been told the school would be rebuilt and made ready for 2027. Vince accused the Conservative government of wasting £29m on the school, which opened two years after it was built in 2019. Pupils and teachers were thanked by Morgan for their "resilience" to the ongoing issue. "We have delivered high-quality temporary modular accommodation that the school will use until its new permanent buildings are ready," the minister added. "We will continue to work closely with the trust and the local community to find a permanent solution." Speaking in 2023, Harlow's former Tory MP Robert Halfon apologised for the disruption and said it had been "an incredibly difficult time". He said: "The government is taking full responsibility for resolving the situation and will fund the rebuild of the school." The school closed its main building and sports hall in August 2023 following advice from the Department for Education and concerns over its "modular mode of construction". Pupils were taught in temporary buildings on site as a result, although those in Year 7 were transported by bus to sister school Mark Hall Academy. Further disruption was caused when a national shortage of temporary classrooms hampered teaching. Following the delivery of a number of temporary buildings, the school then had power cables worth tens of thousands of pounds stolen from within them. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. School at heart of safety fears to be demolished Teaching delayed again at safety-risk school Shut school is vulnerable to high winds - minister Department for Education
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sir Fredrick Gibberd College pupils 'taught in marquees', says MP
School pupils have been taught in "marquees and Portakabins" for more than a year due to safety fears, an MP at Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Harlow, Essex, has been repeatedly disrupted since September town's Labour MP Chris Vince said the school was deemed "unsafe", despite its brand new building opening four years responding to Vince in the House of Commons, Education Minister Stephen Morgan said he was working to find a "permanent solution". A survey concluded the school needed to be demolished as it may not be able to withstand an extreme weather have previously been told the school would be rebuilt and made ready for 2027. Vince accused the Conservative government of wasting £29m on the school, which opened two years after it was built in and teachers were thanked by Morgan for their "resilience" to the ongoing issue."We have delivered high-quality temporary modular accommodation that the school will use until its new permanent buildings are ready," the minister added."We will continue to work closely with the trust and the local community to find a permanent solution."Speaking in 2023, Harlow's former Tory MP Robert Halfon apologised for the disruption and said it had been "an incredibly difficult time".He said: "The government is taking full responsibility for resolving the situation and will fund the rebuild of the school." The school closed its main building and sports hall in August 2023 following advice from the Department for Education and concerns over its "modular mode of construction".Pupils were taught in temporary buildings on site as a result, although those in Year 7 were transported by bus to sister school Mark Hall disruption was caused when a national shortage of temporary classrooms hampered the delivery of a number of temporary buildings, the school then had power cables worth tens of thousands of pounds stolen from within them. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
