News / Barton Hill
‘Everyone is welcome in Bristol’
Members of the local community gathered in Barton Hill on Friday to show their support for the residents of Eccleston House, who are still demanding answers after a fire broke out in the building, injuring six people.
People wrote messages of hope in colourful chalk across the path that surrounds the building.
Messages like “in solidarity,” “love not hate,” “we stand with you” and “everyone is welcome in Bristol” were written in big letters, next to spray-painted hearts and rainbows drawn by young children.
is needed now More than ever
Organisers of the gathering said they want to show love and community to the residents, after a pig’s head was left outside the building. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by Avon and Somerset police.
Members of the community wrote messages of solidarity
Becky, who lives close to Eccleston House and has a friend who lives in the block, helps run Up Our Street, which covers community news from Lawrence Hill and Easton.
She said: “We’ve been upset and angry, and not really knowing what to do. The fire and then the horrible incident with the pig’s head, what do we do?
“This is just a small thing to try and bring people together and show a bit of love.
A sign reads: “Everyone is welcome in Bristol” in colourful chalk
“I think a lot of people don’t really know what to do but want to do something or show in some way that they are thinking about other people so we thought we would come do a little litter pick and a tidy up and try and spruce the place up a bit.
“We’re recording some positive messages to put in our community magazine.”
Muna Mohamoud, a resident of the tower block who has been fighting for answers since the fire, told Bristol24/7 “it’s never too late.”
Muna spoke to BBC Points West after the pig’s head was reported to the police on Monday evening.
She told the BBC that the incident “was just another sign to make us feel traumatised, and to try to make us feel unease and like we shouldn’t be there”.
Muna, who has three young children, told Bristol24/7 on Friday that there are still so many unanswered questions.
“Again, we feel like we are not safe, and we still aren’t safe in that building. We are just waiting for answers. We have loads of questions. We’re slowly getting there, trying to fight for our rights,” she continued.
“It was horrible, especially with young kids.”
Cabinet member for housing, Tom Renhard, announced a series of safety block measures after a review found that flammable cladding had “contributed to the spread” of the fire at Eccleston House.
But Muna does not think this goes far enough.
“We still need alarms, safety alarms, cameras – we still don’t know who did the fire.”
“So many pieces are missing. (The council) need to come down to ask us the questions and answer our questions.”
All photos: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
- Pig’s head left in alleyway being investigated as hate crime
- New safety measures in wake of tower block fires
- Community rallies together in wake of tower block fire
- ‘I was scared for my life and my son’s life’ – Tower block residents recall night of fire
- Man arrested on suspicion of arson folllowing tower block fire
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
