Removal of cladding to be paid for by tower block residents

Luc Low-Foon, 94, has lived in Citiscape on Drummond Road since 2004 and was outraged when told of the news at a meeting last week.

His son, Richard Low-Foon, 58, was also at the meeting and has helped set up a residents association in protest.

"Why should residents have to pay for what should have never been used in the first place," Richard said.

"The cladding is nothing to do with us, from what we understand from a lease agreement, the lease holders are responsible."

Tests were submitted on Citiscape in June which found the cladding to contain aluminium composite material (ACM) - the material which has come under scrutiny since the fatal Grenfell Tower fire.

A spokesman for First Port, which manages the blocks, said the projected costs of replacing the cladding stand at about £500,000.

"We completely understand and sympathise with residents being upset with this unexpected cost and that is why we are helping them to think through the various options open to them in ensuring they stay safe in their homes,” he said.

"As property manager, residents' safety is of vital importance to FirstPort and we will continue working with them to ensure this, as well as to manage the costs of any required works."

Mr Low-Foon said his father doesn't have £5000 just laying about.

"They are pushing the boat saying you have pay £5000," he said.

"You can imagine how my father is feeling, it just seems like they don't care."

The cladding that is now deemed to be unsafe was installed by the firm that originally built Citiscape in 2001.

The developer has confirmed that the advice of an independent fire engineer is that the cladding and insulation complied with building regulations at the time of construction.

The FirstPort spokesman said: "The rights and responsibilities of the various parties are defined in the lease.

"It is common that shared building costs are paid for by the residents in the building."