The scaffolding still up at Campden House

ONE year on from the death of a dad who fell through a council block balcony that appeared to give-way on Father’s Day, tenants are still being told to stay indoors with full repairs yet to be completed.

After the death of the 58-year-old man last year, emergency works were undertaken on the estate that blocked off balconies to the rest of the homes in Campden House.

Abul Choudhury, who lives in the estate and gave CPR to the fall victim, said: “The balconies are still not in use, and we are told we cannot go out on them. The scaffolding is there. There is so much dust. It’s been more than a year now.

“It’s frustrating to see how slow the work is going. Also we have had a huge increase in rodent activities around the scaffolding.

“This week was one Father’s Day. It’s such a slow pace and very poor communication.”

Recalling last year’s event, Mr Choudhury said: “I was at home with my kids, because it was Father’s Day. I went out and started to give him CPR.”

The man, who has not been named, fell from the second floor after a glass panel in the balcony frame appeared to give way.

The death in Swiss Cottage was followed five months later by Josh Robbins, who died in a fall from a balcony of a social housing block in Holborn that also appeared to collapse unexpectedly.

Mr Robbins’ parents, Fiona Jane Garrett and Will Robbins, launched a No More Falls campaign following the tragedy in the forecourt of the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association-run Holland and Thurston block in Newton Street on January 29.

They want to honour their 23-year-old son by urging everyone who lives in high-rise buildings to demand landlords check the safety of their railings.

Announcing the campaign in an online statement, Ms Garrett said: “We have five clear demands to ensure no more lives are lost. Josh’s life mattered, and his death matters.

“Safety is paramount, regardless of class, salary, or housing situation.”

The campaign’s five demands are for mandatory safety inspections, urgent make-safe actions, a national reporting system of failures, clarity over legal responsibility and better enforcement.

Of the works on the Harben estate, Camden council said: “We can confirm that the balcony repair works are now almost complete. With only a small amount of work remaining on one balcony, the scaffolding is scheduled to start to be removed next week.

“Works could not begin until the police had conducted examinations in February 2026 and confirmed repairs could proceed. We recognise the disruption this has caused and are very grateful to residents for their patience while these important works were carried out.”