Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Evacuated tower block residents in protest march to City Hall
SCORES of Barton House residents yesterday marched from the evacuated tower block to City Hall in protest at how they have been treated.
The residents met at the tower block in Barton Hill and dropped a giant banner from a fifth-floor window of the block, before following a two-mile route via Lawrence Hill roundabout and Old Market.
Fadumo Farah, who lives in the tower block and is Acorn’s representative for Barton House, said that the council has refused to meet with the group to discuss the cases of those who do not wish to return.
Protesters chanted “justice for Barton House” as they marched and entered City Hall’s foyer at about 3pm, holding placards with messages such as “Shame on you Marvin” and “compensate residents”.
Complaints over conditions at the Holiday Inn where they have been staying have been ongoing since the bulk of households were moved there by the council after being told their flats were unsafe in November.
Earlier this week it was reported that there was a novovirus outbreak at the hotel.
Sada Jama is a mother at Barton
House and has two children. Her son, who is six years old, has autism and a hearing condition.
She said: “It has been really difficult at the Holiday Inn and he has been constantly getting ill.
“Wednesday the ambulance picked him up and I was there for six hours.
“The GP has now made a referral due to heart problems. He has not been eating properly and catching a lot of viruses at the hotel.
“My daughter who is eight cries when we go back to the hotel and is scared to go back.”