TERRIFIED families in blocks swathed in Grenfell Tower-style cladding say they cannot sleep amid fears of a similar blaze.
Thousands of residents who were among the first to learn their towers failed fire safety tests have been told they must stay put.
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Clair Stanway, 25 has lived in the 11th floor of Taplow Tower, North West London all her life but says she no longer feels safeCredit: gavin rodgers/pixel
It may take a year and £15million to remove and replace panels on five blocks at the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, North West London.
But mum of two Rechelle Atienza, 35, who lives on the eighth floor of Taplow Tower, said: “We are terrified. The fear of the block catching alight is playing on my mind.
“I have been in a fire before so the thought of having that situation again is traumatic.
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Clair's neighbours are also terrified of a similar blaze
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John Reilly lives in Tavy House, Devon said all the residents in his high-rise block were scaredCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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The 74-year-old says he is worried how he would escape from the 16th floor of his tower block
“I am on edge and keep on checking. When my husband is working nights I can’t sleep for fear that we are in danger."
Three cladding samples from the blocks run by Camden Council were last night revealed to have failed government lab tests.
But the 4,800 residents have not been evacuated, with Camden opting to draft in extra fire safety patrols instead.
They also sent letters assuring families the blocks have better fire protection seals than Grenfell, where at least 79 residents died last week.
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Workers started removing cladding from high rise buildings containing similar materials to those used at Grenfell TowerCredit: Eyevine
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Panels blown off Harpenmead Point block in LondonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
However carer Edwina Curioso, 51, who has lived in 23-storey Bray Tower for 28 years, said: “We’re all nervous - they must do something as soon as possible. The council should move us until it’s safe for us to be here.”
Another resident, Clair Stanway, 25, said she no longer feels safe in the tower she has lived in since she was a baby.
He said: “I was involved with it from day one. As far as we knew it was the right cladding. It wasn’t until this morning that Camden said it was wrong. I want to strangle the people who put wrong cladding in.”
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Bob O’Toole, 62, is livid with those responsible for fitting the cladding in Burnham Tower, North West LondonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Combustible cladding is thought to have spread the Grenfell inferno, which killed at least 79 peopleCredit: Eyevine
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The cladding was lined with a 3mm layer of polyethylene which was supposed to comply with stringent fire standards.
But anxious Camden demanded tests on the materials — and found them to be combustible when heated.
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Resident Shirley Phillips was asked to leave Taplow tower, North West London after tests showed the building had similar materials to Grenfell TowerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Geraldine Moore was another resident asked to vacate Taplow towerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The council’s housing boss Pat Callaghan yesterday told residents the authority is taking legal advice.
She said: “We have discovered we have not received the level of safety we commissioned and that we expect from contractors.”
In Plymouth, three high-rise blocks also failed safety tests.
Grandad of six John Reilly, 74, who lives alone on the top floor of the 16-storey Tavy building, said he was worried about getting down.
The disabled ex-merchant seaman, who has lived in the flats for 34 years, said: “We are all scared.”
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A couple of cladding panels are removed from Chalcots Estate in Camden, LondonCredit: EPA
Sharon Chalmers, 35, who lives in the Lynher building, said: “It does worry me because I’ve got three kids - a three-year-old, four-year-old and a 13-year-old.
“It’s scary - especially as when there is a fire they tell us to stay indoors. I was trying to move but I’ll push for it more now.”
Plymouth Community Homes, which manages the blocks, has promised to install sprinklers and heat detectors.
Rivers Apartments, a 22-storey block in Tottenham, North London, is also understood be have been clad in the suspect panels two years ago.
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Camden Council in London is currently removing cladding from fiver tower blocks, including Taplow towerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The block, run by the Newlon Housing Trust, has a sprinkler system but residents were edgy last night.
Home economist Jack Williams, 32, who lives on the ninth floor, said: “It’s such a similar building.
And if it is the same cladding, that is scary. People on the top floor must be especially worried.”
High-rise dwellers in Bristol also fear their blocks are in danger.
Ex-firefighter Steve Cafner, who lives in Brandon House, said: “I don’t know if it is the same cladding but it looks similar. I fear I am surrounded by the stuff that’s gone up in flames.”
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Legal secretary Gina Massiah, 57, who used to live in Twinnell House, said: “When they put the cladding up I was quite surprised.
“It looks like brick but when you touch it it feels like it is made of polystyrene. There are no sprinklers and no alarm.”
Cladding on several blocks in Salford is also being tested amid fears it is flammable.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Nobody will be living in buildings that are unsafe. They will be rehoused if they need to be.”
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