Families forced to flee

Families forced to flee

2 November 2016

ANOTHER suspected arson attack in Newcastle’s Bracken Avenue has forced a further four households out of their homes.

A wheelie bin is believed to have been set on fire and pushed against oil tanks by the flats at around 1.30am on Sunday.

Substantial damage was caused to the four properties and nearby fencing.

It follows a number of similar arson attacks in the Bracken Avenue area last year.

Twelve properties were evacuated last November when an oil tank was set alight, damaging four flats. This was also linked to three previous arson incidents in the same area.

Newcastle councillor Willie Clarke said he believed up to 15 flats had now been affected.

“People are angry and frustrated,” he said. “The properties on this occasion have been completely damaged. Windows are broken and throughout there is smoke damage too.

“There is a lot of anger in the community. They are blaming politicians, they are blaming statutory bodies, they are wondering why these people are not being apprehended. They feel the Burrendale area has been forgotten.”

Councillor Clarke said he had no idea what the motivation was for the oil tank incidents. He said he was also unsure whether they were linked or copycat attempts.

On this occasion he said one of the householders was a vulnerable woman who could have been in the line of the fire but was luckily not present at the time.

“People have to realise lives could have been lost,” he said.

“The mood here is one of fear and anger. A lot of people have lived their whole lives in the Burrendale and this is tarnishing the whole community for them.”

Thanking the emergency services for their quick response, councillor Clarke also thanked the Housing Executive for their work on the ground. He added that he did not believe flats were the best model for social housing.

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie said it was very fortunate that no-one was harmed.

“Four families have been forced from their homes and are now picking up the pieces from this senseless and deplorable act of destruction,” she said. “I’m sure it has caused them great distress and our thoughts will be with them in the time ahead.

“That their lives were put in danger is utterly shameful. Beyond the danger posed to the families, the deliberate destruction of social housing at a time when waiting lists are so long is deeply disappointing.”