Wolverhampton students moved over cladding fears at landmark Liberty Heights
Student flats are being evacuated for an investigation into cladding in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
A total of 70 University of Wolverhampton students in the two smaller blocks at Liberty Heights, off the Wednesfield Road near the city’s railway station, are to be moved.
They are being relocated to the third larger block at the site, known as block A. The smaller blocks are B and C.
Liberty Living, which owns the blocks, discovered a type of aluminium composite material, which could be flammable, had been used for cladding on the blocks during testing.
Around 20 per cent of the eight-storey and 10-storey blocks are clad with the material.
The tallest building at the site, a 25-storey high block, does not have the same material used for cladding.
The firm took advice from West Midlands Fire Service before calling the evacuation. The panels will now be tested to check how combustible they are.
A firm spokesman said: “As a precaution we are moving students from blocks B and C to nearby accommodation.
“Remedial work will begin on the properties as soon as practicable. We will keep everyone fully informed of developments.”
A University of Wolverhampton spokesman said: “The university has been made aware by the building’s owners, Liberty Living, that the company has evacuated two accommodation blocks in Wolverhampton as a precautionary measure.
"The safety of students is of utmost importance to the university, and we continue to liaise with the provider regarding the situation.”
A Wolverhampton council spokesman said: “Due to the summer break this affects a small number of students.
“The affected students are being relocated to alternative student accommodation in the city while further investigations of the two blocks take place.”
The flats area was quiet today, but students based there said they had been told of the move.
Kwaku Peprah, aged 18, is from London near to Grenfell Tower. He said: “I live in C block, the manager told me this morning everybody in C and B block is being relocated to A block. They are doing fire safety checks in B and C blocks.
“The last few days I have seen lots of machines here. I was a bit surprised. I am from London quite near Grenfell Tower and thought ‘imagine if that happened here’. I’m quite worried after what happened to Grenfell Tower.”
Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds said: “I welcome the announcement that students resident in the two blocks in question will be moved out as soon as possible as a precaution.
"I am, however, very concerned that student accommodation may have been clad in flammable substances.”
It is understood the students will be moved out of the smaller blocks by the end of today.
