MORE as yet unanswered questions have emerged following Sunday's fire at Lionel Oxley House in Grays, which has unearthed stories of poor conditions inside the block and a delayed and botched refurbishment project.

This afternoon (Wednesday, 29 December) Nub News met with Grays Riverside ward councillor Martin Kerin at the tower block which contains 56 flats.

Cllr Kerin has expressed deep concern about failings in the response by Thurrock Council following the fire, which necessitated several families being rehoused as work got underway to restore power and heating.

That process took more than 48 hours to complete and in the interim a number of families remained in the block without power and heating.

Cllr Kerin expresses his concerns in our video interview.

Early statements by the council, and housing portfolio holder Cllr Luke Spillman, on the situation at Lionel Oxley House have subsequently been proved to be misleading, though in the end support was offered to most residents.

However, questions remain unanswered about the state of the fire alarm system in the building and what, if any compensation or support will be made to residents following the fire.

And the whole refurbishment project being undertaken by the council for Lionel Oxley House and other tower blocks in the borough remains shrouded in secrecy.

The project appears to be running significantly behind deadline and it is questionable if it can be fulfilled within the original budget of £20million, especially as Nub News is able to reveal today that the replacement windows ordered for the tower blocks did not fit and had to be reordered, while the implications of water ingress into be building as a result of the delays has led to problems with damp and mould that may also require fixing at a cost not budgeted for.

See our previous story via this link.

Having declined to take part in our interview this afternoon, within an hour of its publication, Thurrock Council issued the following statement: "Following the fire and loss of power at Lionel Oxley House, Grays on 26 December, power has been restored and residents were able to return to their properties yesterday (28 December).

"All residents from the 14 flats without power were offered support by the council including temporary accommodation for two nights where necessary while the power was restored.

"If residents have any questions they can contact their housing officer and the council will continue to provide support over the coming days."

Cllr Spillman has not responded.