Ipswich's MP said the issues facing leaseholders of The Mill block on the Waterfront are a "crisis" after a meeting with residents of the block affected by cladding.

Tom Hunt met with The Mill leaseholders on Friday and listened to about 30 "distressed" leaseholders whose homes have been labelled as "unsafe" since 2013. 

Ten years ago, gale-force winds caused damage and tore cladding from the tower. 

A year later, fire experts warned that cladding on The Mill was so unsafe that all residents should be moved out. 

In 2020, this paper investigated that parts of the building were still wrapped in the cladding, while a total of £13million had been spent since 2010 by the administrators on legal costs, nine times as much as had been spent on work to the tower. 

READ MORE: Furious residents say they are 'cladding prisoners' at protest outside freeholders

Mr Hunt said: "Ultimately, there are still a lot of questions, both in terms of the future of the administrator, the freeholder, and the shroud of uncertainty around it. 

"There’s obviously the tower at The Mill, but there are other buildings that are connected to the tower but are very separate. 

Ipswich Star: MP Tom Hunt, House of CommonsMP Tom Hunt, House of Commons (Image: House of Commons)

"We’ll be looking at the possibility of dividing those buildings away so the residents can be free of this issue. 

"The situation with The Mill became a crisis, and I don't use this word lightly." 

Mr Hunt added that he will be looking for opportunities to raise the issue at the House of Commons on Monday and promised to host meetings with residents every week to bring them the latest updates. 

Nearby Cardinal Lofts and St Francis Tower are also affected by similar issues related to cladding, while Churchmans House near the Portman Road football ground is subject to a 24-hour 'waking watch'.

Ipswich Star: The Mill in Ipswich, NewsquestThe Mill in Ipswich, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Special safety measures put in place at another flats block in Ipswich

Ipswich Cladiators, the group founded to fight for the rights of residents caught up in the cladding crisis, said in a statement: "The government must step in to support over 200 families and DanceEast. 

"If not, both will be left to find new homes and locations in the middle of winter. 

"Both Cardinal Lofts and St Francis Tower were almost joined by Churchmans House earlier this year.  

READ MORE: String of defects were discovered at Cardinal Lofts on the Waterfront

Ipswich Star: Cardinal Lofts in Ipswich, NewsquestCardinal Lofts in Ipswich, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"We praise the leaseholders of The Mill for joining forces and working together to fight this injustice.  

"Today's meeting will be one of many important steps towards a solution."