FLATS at a council tower block in Bristol were left covered in a disgusting black substance after an explosion this morning. Residents in Barlands House, Henbury, said they heard a ‘great big bang’ following what they suspect was a drain cleaning malfunction at around 9am on Friday. They awoke to discover ‘an explosion of muck’ […]
FLATS at a council tower block in Bristol were left covered in a disgusting black substance after an explosion this morning.
Residents in Barlands House, Henbury, said they heard a ‘great big bang’ following what they suspect was a drain cleaning malfunction at around 9am on Friday.
They awoke to discover ‘an explosion of muck’ had shot out of their kitchen sinks and covered the rooms.
One man said Bristol City Council contractors were working on clearing the drains of the 14-storey Standfast Road building at the time.
After he reported what had happened to them, two of the contractors came to see and took photos – but six hours later, nothing had been resolved.
This afternoon residents reported being left unable to go into their kitchens, which they describe as ‘a health hazard’, and the foul stench is filling the block of flats.
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Martin Hewer said he had also been forced to turn his electricity off as a precaution because water is ‘pouring through the ceiling’ of his tenth-floor flat.
Mr Hewer, 71, said: “I’m absolutely fuming, I’m furious – it’s a scandal.
“I went for a walk this morning and just as I got back at around 9am, there was a great big bang from the kitchen and I walked in to find it like this.
“I talked to my neighbour who was out, and told him to come back, and his kitchen was the same.
“I don’t know how many flats are affected like this, but I’m on the tenth floor so it could be a lot of them.
“The council had contractors in doing something with the drains, and God knows what’s gone wrong.
“I went and found them and told them, and two of them came up, had a look, took some pictures and then went off again. I haven’t seen them since.”
Mr Hewer, who is retired, said he is worried for his health, adding: “I couldn’t believe what I saw when I walked into the kitchen.
“There was all this dirt everywhere, it’s like a sticky black tar-like substance and it stinks.
“Obviously the kitchen is unusable and I’m worried about what this substance is and if it’s safe to clear up – it needs professional cleaners because now my kitchen is contaminated with this black stuff.
“It needs proper disinfecting – this is a health and safety issue.”
Another resident said her flat had not been affected, although she said her sinkhole was blocked with a plug.
The Sun has contacted Bristol City Council for comment.
