Ipswich St Francis Tower residents annoyed by rushed process

People who had been evacuated received a letter on Thursday, March 7 which said those living between floors eight to 13 can arrange dates to retrieve their items so reinforcement works can begin.

On failure to retrieve items by Sunday, the management group told them it would be removed and destroyed. 

Ross Bonner, who holds multiple leases in the building, called this process "unacceptable".

He said: "To suddenly be rushed into removing all items within a two-week time frame after the building has sat dormant for months isn't necessary.

"People could have been offered more time and more assistance."

Ross Bonner who holds multiple leases in the building calls the management of it, completely unacceptable (Image: Ross Bonner)

He and others like him also complained that the tower still does not have a functioning lift, resulting in residents having to climb 13 floors and bring down their furniture.

Others complained about the lack of communication between the management group and the residents. 

The evacuation from the tower occurred after two major water leaks in July 2023, the first affecting the seventh floor and below, and the second affecting the eighth to the thirteenth floor, during which Block Management UK was looking after the building. 

Since then it was handed to Pier Management, which subsequently handed it to Inspired Property Management (IPM). 

Residents are left unimpressed with each management group. 

Currently under IPM, their main complaint is that with retrieving their items from the tower the communication has not been effective. 

Resident Paul Andrews said: "The time it has taken them to tell us we can get our stuff was abhorrent, but since then to arrange a slot to retrieve it has been equally annoying."

Another resident said that multiple times his call had been put on hold while arranging a slot to retrieve his belongings. 

They said: "Even once at the tower, I would have to wait before someone could help get me up to my floor," he added. "We weren't allowed to go up alone due to safety concerns."

Complaints with Pier Management mentioned how residents have not received payments on the settlements they had been offered since December.

Pier Management offered the residents a settlement of £3,150 which was to be initially made into a one-off payment, meant to help cover the costs of alternative accommodation.   

The payment was set to be made in December.

Joan Richard, a resident of the building, said: "They keep asking for the payment to be delayed, and keep apologising, but I need that money.

"I am owed that money."

She also noted that the management has not been responding to emails - their only correspondence is over the phone. 

Residents of the tower still believe that they have been given insuffient communication (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A second resident said: "Firstly the amount is quite low because £3,150 does offer some support but we have never been told when we would be allowed back in.

"But also, they just do not respond to us when we ask where that money is. We just get shunned every time."

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt previously called this "completely unacceptable".

He said: "I feel enormously for all St Francis Tower residents who have been let down time and time again over the past few years."

He further urges residents to get in contact with him so that he can extend support further. 

Both IPM and Pier Management Group have been approached for a comment.