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By Emma Doyle
Cllr Yaqub stated that officers’ communication was “poor” and that despite PS6million being allocated for Brooke House, major repairs are still delayed.
Essex Councillor Maryam Yaqub (Lab., St Martin’s) will present a motion at a Basildon Borough Council meeting on December 14 requesting that the authority disclose if and when major repairs to Basildon’s tallest building will begin. She also wants assurances that residents of the tower will receive care in accordance with a strategy that will make it safe. Councilor Maryam Yaqub, (Lab. St Martin’s), will make a motion to the Basildon Borough Council on the 14th of December, requesting the disclosure of a Brooke House decanting plan as soon as possible and that residents feel “neglected and forgotten” by the local authority.
As part of its budget, the Council allocated PS6million in 2021 for urgent repairs to Brooke House, located in Town Square. The work included replacing windows, improving water and electric systems and repairing the handrails in the stairwells. In 1962 the 14-storey Grade II tower block, which was built in 1962, was finished. However, in the last few years, the disrepair of the building, has led to various safety and health concerns. Recent power outages have left residents climbing partially exposed stairs up to their apartment. Holes in the roof also have been causing persistent leaks.
Cllr Yaqub told LDRS: “At this time, the most pressing issue is the failure of the council to communicate with residents.” Cllr Yaqub said, “At the moment, the biggest issue is that the council has failed in its communication with the residents.”
She said, however, that residents and council are “in a situation where we do not know if (repairs will be done).” The repairs will they be just another item on the to-do lists?
Cllr Yaqub stated that the decanting plan is being developed, but it is unlikely to be approved by cabinet before February 2024. Brooke House’s residents won’t know until then if they have to move out of their home to ensure the safety of the building. “In my opinion, the council has caused a lot of stress and worry…but they are not going to take any action because it is so expensive.” The planning permission was given in July of 2022 and the works were due to begin in April of this year if plans had been followed.
Cllr Yaqub said, “It is not like the council was forced to come up with the money. A pot of PS6millions has been allocated to Brooke House.” The works were never completed. Does it still stand that the council will not do the necessary works if it does not have enough money? “It doesn’t seem to make any sense.”
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