A High Court judge has ordered Ascham Homes to consult with tenants before removing balcony doors that residents claim would remove their ‘privacy and security’.

Ascham Homes had said that there was 'no alternative' to removing the doors at John Walsh and Fred Wigg towers in Leytonstone after it was repelled by 50 residents forming a human chain to block the works.

After five fires in four years at the towers, Ascham Homes gave written notice that they would be removing the doors, which they considered to be a fire escape hazard.

But the newly formed tenants’ and residents’ association (TRA) said neighbours would be able to access each other’s homes and were concerned for the safety of children and women in the blocks.

At a hearing at the High Court, Judge Justice Cooke ordered that Waltham Forest council to receive any further representations from any party in relation to actions to comply with the London Fire Brigade’s notice to improve fire escapes.

The council was ordered to further consult with the TRA before reaching a new decision by October 29.

In the meantime the judge demanded tenants shouldn’t cause or allow any hindrance to Ascham Homes workers from undertaking works relating to emergency fire escape routes in the rear access passage ways.

Peter O’Kane of Ferndale Road has been helping to set up the TRA and highlighted some of their concerns around consultation.

He said: “The cost of going to a high court is not cheap. We worked it out that for the same price the council could have paid someone to police the doors once a week for three years to make sure the routes were clear.

“It is very rare for a council to be told by a High Court judge to redo consultation on such a detailed local matter.

“The court order makes Waltham Forest prominent in an ignominious league table.

“The council has been shown it has more than one option as to how it complies with the Fire Brigade notice.”

A four year project to refurbish Fred Wigg and John Walsh towers is set to begin in the next year.

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