Ascham Homes has run into double trouble with tower block residents and the fire service after it was served with a deficiency notice.

Residents of John Walsh and Fred Wigg towers in Leytonstone are ‘furious’ at their landlord after being told they are considering removing doors which separate their balconies.

Doing so, would mean residents would share one long balcony with neighbours, allowing strangers to get close to their homes.

In March, AH was told they must take action after an inspection revealed firefighters could not pass through balconies, a secondary fire escape route, because of the doors being blocked.

However, residents claim Ascham Homes previously encouraged them to use the balconies as a ‘conservatory’ or extension of their home area.

Ascham Homes is considering full removal of the doors, only informing residents about the move at the beginning of this month.

At a meeting last night, residents of the Montague Road towers, which will soon undergo controversial regeneration, were outraged at the suggestion.

Shared balconies, if the doors are removed, can be accessed from a stairwell door.

“You are going to leave us completely exposed,” new chairman tenants’ and residents’ association (TRA) Sonia McKenzie said.

“We have a problem with young people gathering in the stairwells. I have seen the glass being pushed out of doors and locks being broken.

“Our homes will not be safe if people can have this access to them. Some people, when they see an open door, will take what they can, it’s called opportunity.

“Why do we have to be penalised and live in fear?”

Other residents raised concerns over the safety of children and worries about animals accessing their homes.

As tenants are moving out, short term leases are being given by the council, adding to a fear of danger for the residents as they could soon be sharing space with ‘complete srtangers’.

Police officers from the Cann Hall Safer Neighbourhoods team admitted they have seen the stairwell doors broken on ‘numerous occasions’.

A representative from Ascham Homes said they are looking at making the stairwell doors ‘more secure’.

However, there was confusion over whether or not the balconies are an official fire escape route, and whether the balcony doors are actually fire preventing.

A fireman at the meeting suggested Ascham had ‘got away’ with putting windows in the balcony doors, making them unfit for a fire escape.

A previous fire had blown smoke along balconies, causing residents to suggest taking the doors out would actually compromise their safety in a fire.

Also, there is no floor lighting on balconies as would be expected on a fire escape route.

Peter O’Kane of Ferndale Road has been helping to set up the TRA.

He suggested ‘push bar doors’ be fitted so there is a means of safe escape for residents, and their properties can remain private.

However, the cost is unlikely to be met by the authority which will soon refurbish the blocks.

It is believed the authority it trying to have the deadline of August 18 extended with the fire service.

A fireman suggested said the ‘best solution’ he could see would be to better police the current situation and ensure passages become unblocked.

A four year project to refurbish Fred Wigg and John Walsh is set to begin soon.

It will see a cut from 234 social housing units to 200.

Campaigners have criticised the plans, saying modernisation should take place without residents needing to relocate.

The plan, which the council say is supported by majority of the residents, is to build new flats in a block between the towers and sell some on the open market to contribute towards the refurbishment.