URGENT safety improvements must be made at a Basildon town centre tower block after a man fell to his death, Basildon’s Labour leader has insisted.
The man fell to his death from the fifth floor of Brooke House, in Town Square, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Now, Basildon Labour leader Maryam Yaqub is demanding Basildon Council ensures the windows are safe and carries out essential checks on the building.
It comes as she revealed the man was not a Brooke House resident and support is being given to the family concerned and other residents in the high rise block of flats.
She said: “As the ward councillor for St Martin’s, this is incredibly distressing for residents of Brooke House, and for the wider public and businesses that visit and occupy our town centre.
“Whilst we need to wait for the police to undertake their full investigation, there are understandably immediate questions for the council that require urgent answers.
“I am also especially keen to avoid the public interpretation that the council’s failure to enact on a policy decision taken 18 months ago has led to the council having blood on its hands.”
In a letter to the chief executive Scott Logan, she asked for a number of reassurances, including if the windows were replaced as part of an agreed £6 million revamp.
Mrs Yaqub received an update from the director of housing Lesley O’Shea, which stated: “We were informed of this very sad incident by the police yesterday and await further information following investigations. However, I can confirm that the incident is being treated as a sudden death and not suspicious. The victim was a visitor and not a tenant of Brooke House. The family have been offered appropriate advice on the support services available.
“Council officers are currently preparing a letter to be hand delivered to all residents of the block which will provide the appropriate contact numbers for the council and police should residents wish to speak to us.”
Emergency services rushed to the block in the town centre just after midnight on Saturday following the incident.
Police confirmed a man died and his death was treated as unexplained and not suspicious. The ambulance service confirmed the man fell from a height at the tower.
Basildon Council was contacted for comment.
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