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Emotional leaseholders speak about impact of building safety crisis at Bristol rally
Leaseholders fought back tears as they spoke about the mental and financial toll of being embroiled in the ongoing building safety crisis.
“Speaking to my neighbours about the problem, it’s heartbreaking to see the fear and despair on their faces,” Sarah Rowlands, a leaseholder at Quay Point, told the crowd gathered on College Green
“Every day I worry for all of us as the physical and mental toll becomes greater.”
is needed now More than ever
The leaseholder, who has been living with the stress of being in an unsafe building for ten months and faces a bill of £60,000, spoke about the toll the situation is having on her own mental health and wellbeing.
“I’m exhausted but struggle to sleep and when I do I wake up in the night crying,” said Sarah.
Sarah is one of the hundreds of people in the city affected by the building safety crisis, which has left residents living in unsafe buildings and facing skyrocketing bills through no fault of their own.
Many turned out on College Green on Saturday to make their voices heard and call on the government to hold the builders and developers responsible for the issue to account.
Many of those affected by the building safety scandal turned out to protest on College Green
Leaseholders fought back tears as they spoke about the mental and financial toll of being embroiled in the ongoing building safety crisis
Speakers from Labour, the Lib Dems and Green Party called on the government to take action on something that goes beyond party politics and is an issue of fairness.
Steve Day, a campaigner who drafted the Polluter Pays bill, also took to the podium. The Polluter Pays bill, if adopted, could force developers that breached building regulations to pay for all remedial work, assuming the responsible party can be found.
All photos by Ellie Pipe
Read more: Bristol’s building safety crisis uncovered
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