RESIDENTS of a street in Barrow say they have 'had enough' after an eight-year battle with the council over an issue that has left them living in damp homes with major structural problems.
Fed-up inhabitants of Rawlinson Street are urging the council to hurry up and assess the findings of surveys done to their homes that could put an end to their 'living nightmare'.
Work was done to the front of the properties on the street, near Barrow town centre, including the guttering slips, under a government-funded thermal efficiency improvement program and a landlord now says he wants answers regarding how work was carried out.
In February, Rawlinson Street resident Kinza Wakefield described her situation as a 'living nightmare' and is terrified parts of her house may actually collapse.
READ MORE: Barrow woman terrified floor will collapse in 'nightmare' damp house
The 63-year-old who is disabled and lives alone says the damp in her home - so severe it can be smelt by her neighbours - is causing major structural issues.
And she is scared windows could pop out of their frames and her living room floor might collapse.
Mrs Wakefield said: "It's gotten worse. I had a neighbour in here yesterday who stood by the living room window and he said 'it's like walking down a hill', the gap has gotten so much bigger.
"I've now had to move my bed because of the mould and it's getting me down so much I'm thinking of going to the doctor.
"We're just constantly told we'll be given answers and we never get them. We've had enough of the eight-year battle, that's now coming up to nine and surveys have been done so we want to see the results now."
A landlord who owns two properties next to Mrs Wakefield has also come forward, with it also believed there is a third resident experiencing problems with damp.
"We've been waiting for the council to make good on what they did wrong and now we've had enough," said the landlord, who did not want to be named.
"I and at least two other residents have raised complaints about the work that was done, and also how it was done.
"Because of the way the gutters have been fixed, water leaks in and runs down the cavities of the houses which is causing damp in all of our homes.
"The original gutters were fine and worked well, the house was dry. Once the cladding and new gutters were fitted the houses became damp.
"The scaffolding left on the homes was shoddy. My building is three-storeys and I witnessed workmen having to hop up and use step ladders to fit the gutters.
"I'm concerned that the cavity ties are rotting from the damp ingress compounded by the extra load of the cladding.
"All our calls and complaints, we never get anywhere therefore I submitted a Freedom of Information Request in November 2023. Still not had anything back.
"I have requested all documentation, communications and reports by Westmorland and Furness Council related to the cladding project as we want answers now."
"The council has conducted surveys of the affected buildings and the findings are currently being assessed. We understand the concerns of residents and we hope to be able to provide further updates soon."
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