Bowed wall sparks safety fears at block of flats

5:00pm Sunday 17th February 2008

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A BOWED wall and falling masonry at a block of flats in Lewisham has forced residents out of their homes.

Police have placed cordons in the area around the 11-storey block in Carston Close, Lee Green and residents are afraid to go back inside.

Fire crews, ambulance and police were called to the block, just off Eltham Road, earlier today following reports of falling masonry.

External rendering has come away from the building and a wall between the sixth and seventh floor is bowed.

A liaison officer from Lewisham council, who did not want to be named said that some residents would be evacuated overnight, but could not say how many or for how long.

He said: "There is a bit of movement in the brickwork.

"We are waiting to get an inspection.

"In the meantime we are going to keep people out there."

A surveyor at the scene said the only reason for asking people to leave their homes is so work on the exterior of the building can get underway.

However while residents waited outside they shared their concerns about the safety of the structure.

One woman who has lived on the 9th floor of the block with her two year old daughter and 11 month old son said: "The surveyor said the metal partition in the wall is corroded and snapped.

"It is not safe in there at all."

Another woman said: "I don't feel safe going back in there.

"There's no guarantee of anything at all."

She added: "If you tap around the windows it is hollow where the plaster has come away from the brickwork.

"There is mould in the bathrooms."

The block called Merridale House is part of the Leybridge Court state owned by Lewisham Homes.