Residents’ relationship with council ‘completely broken’ after more delays to Sheffield tower block investigation

Hanover Tower, on Exeter Drive, Broomhall, failed fire safety tests introduced in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.

Sheffield Council since removed the flammable materials and launched an independent investigation to find out why it was used.

But more than two and a half years and multiple missed deadlines later residents are still waiting for answers.

Councillor Angela Argenzio, representative for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale, said: “People are really disheartened, they roll their eyes when yet another promise is made, and some are really angry.

“There are some conspiracy theories floating around because there is no clarity or trust anymore. They’ve lost faith in the council, residents are really fed up. The delays are making people paranoid.

“People want closure, they want to put it behind them but until the report is published they can’t.

“They also want reassurance that their homes are safe now. And part of human nature is they want someone to blame for it.

“I’m so outraged for the residents. People on that estate already have to put up with poor conditions, I sometimes think if this had been on a more affluent part of the ward would the report have had so many delays.”

The report was originally due to be released by the end of 2017, but was delayed a number of times.

At the start of 2019, Janet Sharpe, director for housing, said the report was 95 percent complete, apologised for delays and said it would be published in March, which did not happen.

Then the deadline was December but this was pushed back by Lovell Homes.

Coun Paul Wood, cabinet member for safety, said in answer to members' questions at the last full council meeting: "The report is being finalised and we are arranging to meet with the Hanover residents on the 17th February to discuss the final report."

However, this was also cancelled and a meeting has now been pushed back another month to March 17.

Sheffield Council was contacted for comment.