Residents Voice Terror Over Faulty Fire Doors in High-Rise Block
People living in a Brierley Hill tower block are living in fear of a potential deadly blaze, citing what they describe as 'botched repairs' and serious fire safety failures. Residents of the Dudley Council-owned Dean Court claim that faulty fire doors, so problematic that a postman once became trapped by one, are putting their lives at risk.
A 16-Year Battle Over Building Safety
Diane Hobley, aged 73, stated she has been raising concerns about the block for an incredible 16 years, feeling her warnings have been consistently ignored. The core issue, according to residents, involves fire doors on the landings that are blown open by wind rushing through ventilation slats on the opposite wall. Once open, the doors fail to close properly, creating a clear pathway for fire to spread rapidly through the building.
"Gradually it got worse, the doors just wouldn't close," Mrs Hobley explained. She detailed how the council's response has been to repeatedly adjust the door closers, a fix that has proven ineffective and even dangerous. "They adjusted it and we couldn't open the door, the postman got stuck. We had to push the door open for him to get out," she recounted. On another occasion, the adjustment resulted in a door being permanently open.
Council 'Fixing the Wrong Thing'
Gaynor English, aged 45, echoed these frustrations, accusing the council of not addressing the root cause. "They are trying to do things but they are not doing the right things," she said. The problem even extends to their own front doors, with Ms. English noting, "I can see daylight through mine."
Residents believe the solution is simple and are baffled by the council's inaction. Mrs Hobley suggested, "It's the slats, it's nothing to do with the doors. You could go to B&Q, get a block of wood and nail it to the thing, it would only cost £10."
With the memory of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster looming large, residents said they have lost all confidence in the building's safety. They expressed that they would not be willing to follow a 'stay put' policy and wait in their flats during a fire, fearing the doors would not hold back the flames.
"It is in the back of your mind, especially if you smell an odd smell. I wouldn't wait an hour for a fire to be put out," Mrs Hobley admitted, highlighting the constant anxiety. Her fears are not unfounded, recalling a near-miss from nine years ago when a neighbour smoking in bed caused a significant smoke incident, requiring the fire brigade to break down the door.
Council's Response to Safety Concerns
When confronted with these serious allegations, a spokesperson for Dudley Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the authority has emergency procedures to evacuate flats in the event of a fire.
The spokesperson stated, "DMBC has a robust Fire Safety Management Plan aligned with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005." This plan, they claimed, ensures the council's residential sites are managed to reduce fire risks.
They added that the council responds to all building safety concerns and that any high-risk actions identified from Fire Risk Assessments or inspections are raised without delay. Remedial works are then reviewed and issued to specialist fire contractors where required.
Despite these assurances, the residents of Dean Court continue to live with the daily fear that the very systems designed to protect them are fundamentally flawed.
