Heartbroken residents on a Kirkby housing estate have been told they must vacate their homes after essential repairs were not been carried out
Chris Penfold-Ivany packing to move out of Willow Rise Flat(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
‘Outraged’ residents on a Kirkby housing estate have been told to move out of their homes within 22 days. The news is the latest update in an ongoing catastrophe which has plunged hundreds of people’s lives into crisis.
The future viability of Willow Rise and Beech Rise tower blocks looks increasingly ominous after essential repairs were left undone, leading to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) declaring the buildings ‘unsafe’. The lives of all 160 households have been turned upside down despite ongoing efforts to resolve the problems.
The situation has become progressively worse with many residents feeling scared about the level of danger they might be in and their future housing security. Arunee Leerasiri is one of hundreds of people affected. As the spectre of homelessness hangs over her, Arunee said she is ‘broken’ and overwhelmed by the crisis.
Due to ongoing safety concerns, Arunee moved into temporary accommodation earlier this month as she awaited an update on the Willow Rise building. However, Knowsley Council have now confirmed residents have until July 21 to find a new place to live.
Arunee said she will have to move back into the block so she can save money for a move. She added: “I have no other choice really.
“I feel unsafe being here, but I don’t know what to do and I don’t know what the future holds.
Arunee Leerasiri, resident of Willow Rise in Kirkby, surrounded by her packed belongings in her flat(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“I am not happy at the idea of climbing the dirty stairs up to my flat and seeing the damp and the smell. My flat is just a shell with floorboards.
“The place is now officially a rat house. I saw a rat on Sunday when I went to collect my post. What’s happening is an absolute outrage. This is a real life drama.
“I’m in massive limbo and I’ve spent nearly £2,000 over the past weeks in an Airbnb and I just can’t afford all of the growing bills.
She added: “Someone should have said that the building won’t be shut down until mid-July, not just say ‘weeks’. I could have saved a lot of money delaying the move and not knowing a definite date has really messed with my head.”
The tower blocks are located on Roughwood Drive in Kirkby and have hundreds of residents – both rented tenants and leaseholders. The buildings are owned by TR Marketing Ltd, the head lessor of both blocks is Rockwell (FC100) Limited and the leaseholder group is Parklands.
At the start of May, Dempster Management Services informed all residents and leaseholders it had decided to terminate its contract with Beech Rise and Willow Rise, effective immediately. It means residents have been living without a management company.
The Liverpool ECHO first reported on problems at these tower blocks last year when residents came forward to complain about the conditions. One article detailed the plight of Kathleen Rosenthal, 68, who felt ‘trapped’ in her home because of the broken down lifts.
Resident Chris Penfold-Ivany outside Willow Rise in Kirkby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The ECHO also highlighted the plight of Joe, who said he was forced out of his Willow Rise flat due to major leaks in the block resulting in his electricity being cut off, adding at the time: “This has caused immense stress and anxiety, as I’ve lost the safety and stability of my home.”
As the crisis unfolded, Knowsley Council wrote to residents and owners of properties in Beech Rise and Willow Rise on May 20, to inform them it was taking over a ‘waking watch’ of the building for a limited period.
These buildings are privately owned – they are not council-owned buildings, but the local authority stepped in to offer support due to the scale of problems on the estate. The building are currently subject to an enforcement notice by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) due to safety concerns.
As part of this ongoing support, the local authority volunteered to fund the waking watch service, temporarily – that service is costing the council more than £3,000 per day. MFRS confirmed that if the waking watch ends without the repairs being carried out, it will have no option but to declare the buildings unsafe and issue a prohibition notice.
During the last two months, residents have been anxiously awaiting updates on what will happen to the buildings and whether an alternative solution can be found – something which would prevent the proposed evictions.
On Thursday June 26, Knowsley Council sent out a letter updating residents on developments: “The Council has had a further series of meetings this week with parties involved in the ownership and management of both buildings.
“One such party had previously indicated that they may step in to carry out some of the essential repairs that are urgently needed. However, they have now told us they are not yet able to confirm what works, if any, they will undertake.
“They do intend to continue investigating possibilities, but this will take some time. They have also advised that the extent of any works needed (if they are feasible) would, in any case, mean the building would need to be vacated for a prolonged period.
Willow Rise in Kirkby(Image: Copyright Unknown)
“They have also stated that the cost of these works would have to be funded via the service charges. For that reason, they do not intend to continue the waking watch once the current watch – put in place temporarily by the council – ends.”
A Knowsley Council statement on its website added: “Waking watch will be extended until Monday, 21 July 2025 at 12 midday. After that, Merseyside Fire and Rescue (MFRS) will issue a prohibition order against the building, meaning all residents must leave on or before this day.”
Christopher Penfold-Ivany, 53, lives on floor 13 of Willow Rise and is currently undergoing treatment for a serious health issue. Because of the broken down lifts, he has been forced to walk up and down 26 flights of stairs whenever he has to go out for a medical appointment. On top all all this, Christopher is living with the stress of being a resident at Willow Rise.
Responding to the letter from Knowsley Council, Mr Penfold-Ivany said: “There’s very few, few of us left now in the building because of, I’d say about 50% of us left.
“I’m shocked, but not surprised. Not anymore. This place has been neglected and it just doesn’t feel safe anymore.
“If there’s a will or intention to get all the repairs done, then I haven’t seen any evidence of it. More importantly, we’ve all been left in limbo.
“All we know for definite is we can’t live here anymore, but where will we live? We’ve basically got 22 days to get the hell out of dodge.
“Like so many other people here, I can’t tell you for definite where I’ll be living next month.”
Since the ECHO first broke news of the situation at Willow and Beech Rise, Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley and Knowsley Council leader, Graham Morgan said they are committed to finding a satisfactory outcome for all those affected and have called for accountability.
Nonetheless, the latest update has highlighted the urgency of the situation and the desperate circumstances people are trying to navigate. As Mr Penfold-Ivany said: “We will need all the help we can get.”