Bacton Tower in Gospel Oak, NW5

• SINCE refurbishment of Bacton Tower block, under the Better Homes Scheme, the state-of-the-art heating system has consistently failed.

For three years tenants have had to endure the vagaries of a heating system that from the outset was thought to have problems and has proven to be not fit for purpose.

The company, GEM, contracted by Camden Council to maintain the system have said that they knew there were “snags” with the tower block heating system when they took on the contract but thought they could be quickly resolved.

This has not proved to be the case. Indeed, I understand that due to the high number of call-outs at Bacton Tower, they are now in the process of renegotiating the contract.

The tenants’ association and tenants have been complaining about the problems with the heating system since it was installed. The council and the GEM have responded in a piecemeal manner and have failed to recognise that this heating system has major, if not systemic, problems.

Tenants are demanding information about what plans the Camden/GEM have in place, if any, to resolve these problems.

The upper floors of the tower block have had no heating for over a month. This is not acceptable. The council’s response over this period has been, predictably, silence.

LESLIE DAWES
Chair, Bacton Tenants’ Association