Sex, drugs and arson: Call for action after ‘nightmare flats’ fire
A suspected arson attack which forced 10 people to leave their homes is the latest incident in a ‘nightmare’ block of flats blighted by prostitution and drugs, tenants have claimed.
Flames engulfed a ground floor apartment at Farrington House in Wednesbury Road, Caldmore, on Friday, completely gutting the bedroom of the property and destroying a bed.
West Midlands Police is now investigating the incident, which officers say could have been caused deliberately.
It is the latest drama for residents who are now demanding action from provider Accord Housing saying complaints about crime and anti-social behaviour have been ignored.
Susan Wesson, one of the 10 residents of the homes that were evacuated, said: “Living here is a total nightmare. I have been here for 10 years but lately it is dreadful.
“It is being used as a brothel, with different prostitutes coming and going, there are condoms left around, people having sex on the landings and doing drugs.
“I am getting no sleep night after night. I have called Accord endless times but they haven’t done anything.”
The flats back directly on to Sister Dora Gardens which residents said contains a garage block also notorious for drug dealing, prostitution and anti-social behaviour.
Walsall Councillor Aftab Nawaz, who represents the area, repeated his view that the presence of sex workers in Caldmore had not been tackled effectively due to a dwindling number of police officers.
He said: “Caldmore has been blighted by prostitution and kerb crawling for years. It has been getting worse with the lack of police officers on the streets to deter them. They try their best but they have not got the numbers they used to.
“There needs to be a long-term strategy about how to tackle prostitution in the area it is not going to be resolved with the current level of policing.”
He added: “The landlords also have a responsibility. If residents are reporting issues I would expect Accord Housing to take action straight away.
"Nobody wants to live next door to where this sort of thing is going on. The neighbours may be wrong but their suspicions need to be follow up.”
Smoke filled the corridors and billowed out of the windows of the property where young children are among the tenants, around 3.30pm on Friday.
More than 20 firefighters descended on the scene in less than three minutes and confirmed the fire was out by 6.13pm.
Ms Wesson lives in a flat on the ground floor near to the one where the flames ignited and is currently having to stay with a friend on the first floor.
She said: “I was the one who called the fire brigade. I was here at my friends and I saw all of this black smoke coming from downstairs.
"It was lucky it was during the day because if it happened at night we could have all been killed. I really have no idea when I am going to be allowed back into my flat.”
Another tenant, who did not wish to be named, said: “I came back when someone called to say the block was on fire. I wanted to come in to get my son out but they wouldn’t let me in.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Ten people were evacuated. The police are investigating the incident. One of the lines of inquiry is that it could be arson.”
A spokesman for Accord Group said: “We can confirm that there was a fire at the Heritage in Walsall which was limited to one flat and was quickly contained.
“No one was injured and some of the residents have already been able to return to their homes.
"Other residents have been assisted with finding alternative temporary accommodation and will be able return to their homes over the next few days as soon as repair works are completed.”
