BASILDON Council was warned about “fire safety issues” at a dilapidated tower block a year ago but failed to tell residents, it has been revealed.

In December, the council announced that all residents would have to move out after it was told by Essex Fire and Rescue urgent repairs to the stairwell could not be carried out without clearing the building.

However, it has now been revealed the fire service wrote to the council in April 2023 stating the building was not “fully compliant” with fire safety legislation.

In response, Basildon Council insisted the building remained safe for residents and that regular maintenance had been undertaken as a result.

However, Kerry Smith, councillor responsible for the Nethermayne ward, is adamant that residents should have been told as soon as the fire service first warned Basildon Council.

He said: “When the Tories took over, the budget was there, they could have moved them then. The whole thing is a complete debacle. They should have made residents aware and also had a meeting with residents. It is rightly so that they feel aggrieved. The council should be keeping up with fire safety at a minimum.”

In December, families were told they would be leaving Brooke House as a £16 million overhaul was to be carried out. Residents have been plagued by leaks, damp and mould for several years, but matters came to a head when the council were told urgent repairs to the stairwell could not be carried out without clearing the building.

The newly revealed letter stated: “The order requires the fire safety issues at the above premises to be effectively managed. Failure to address the items specified in the report could result in enforcement action being taken”.

Within the letter, the issues raised were that the emergency lighting and the dry riser were “inadequately maintained”.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “Upon receipt of the notice, Basildon Council clarified with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service that regular maintenance of the emergency lighting and dry risers had been undertaken. As such, the building remained safe for residents to live in.

“The decision to decant Brooke House was made upon approval of large-scale refurbishment works, including substantial upgrades to the building’s staircases, which could not be completed while residents remained in the building.”