Ascham Homes have refused to back down on their plan to remove doors that provide 'safety and privacy' to tenants despite widespread protests.

Nearly 50 residents of John Walsh and Fred Wigg towers in Leytonstone formed a human chain to block access to Ascham Homes workers intending to remove balcony doors on Monday morning (September 28).

A petition organised by the newly founded tenants’ and residents’ association (TRA) attracted over 140 signatures from tenants who are concerned with the ‘loss of privacy and safety’ the doors have give them for over 50 years.

The works are based on a Fire Inspectors report, released after a FOI request, that stated during an inspection in March alternative emergency exits at the rear of the maisonettes were ‘impassable’.

The report offered solutions including: “increasing the policing of the route, or reviewing the Fire Strategy to provide compensatory features to other existing routes to ensure they are always available in an emergency.”

The removal of the doors was not directly recommended by the Fire Brigade in the report.

On Monday, the repelled Ascham workers were pulled off site and tenants believed they would be consulted and offered alternatives to the works that could leave them vulnerable to intruders.

However, director of property services at Ascham Homes, Judith Page, said today (September 30) that there was no alternative to the works.

She said: “We respect the right for residents to air their views and to engage in peaceful non-obstructive protest that does not prevent our officers from going about their work.

“We believe there is no alternative than to remove these screens which are in communal spaces and are not individual balconies belonging to tenants.

“We acknowledge that some residents have been using these spaces as their own private balconies and may be unhappy at losing this space.

“As we have already stated the safety of our residents is paramount which is why we are working closely with the Police for an on-site visit as well as the Fire Service to ensure all residents have personal security and peace of mind.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Protests have been going on for over a week against the plans

Sonia McKenzie, Chair of Fred Wigg Tower & John Walsh Tower TRA, claimed that Ascham Homes were factually inorrect by saying there was no alternative.

She said: “The doors have been seen there without objection by the Fire Brigade or anybody else for 50 years. 

"Women and children in particular are being put at risk unnecessarily. 

"Currently the balconies are clearer than they have been for more than a decade after both Ascham Homes and the TRA have urged residents to ensure their balcony passageway is not obstructed.

"We welcome Ascham’s Homes promise to work with residents to improve safety in the buildings but starting off by reducing personal security does not seem to make sense.”