Barton House Mixed reactions to changes in council rehousing policy

COUNCIL chiefs have welcomed changes to housing policy in the wake of the emergency evacuation of Bristol's oldest council tower block, but a residents representative has accused them of 'rewriting history'.

- Tristan CORK

Fadumo Farah, who was evacuated along with hundreds of her neighbours from Barton House in Bristol, said the Green Party council leadership still have not met their promise to prioritise traumatised residents for rehousing.

Councillors have now confirmed and adopted changes to the way they prioritise people for council housing through the existing banding system, which has Band 1 as the most in need and the first in line to be found a home or rehoused.

The new policy includes for the first time extra priority for social housing tenants in Bristol who must leave their properties due to a 'significant mass emergency event'.

In the months that Barton House tenants spent evacuated during the winter of 2023-24, and in the 18 months since they were told to return to the ageing tower block, many residents have asked the council to move them, citing a major report from medical experts that outlined how many of the residents were suffering from trauma-related conditions.

The new changes to the council's HomeChoice housing list system will give greater priority to anyone involved in a 'mass emergency,' and also give added priority to those whose health is 'significantly affected by current housing'.