Residents who had to be evacuated from a city centre block of flats over fire safety concerns have started to return to their homes.
Sections of the Rialto Building on Melbourne Street, in Newcastle city centre, were served with a prohibition notice last week by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) due to 'immediate concerns for residents'. It resulted in a number of residents being asked to temporarily leave the premises until remedial work can be carried out by those responsible for the building to address concerns raised with the fire service.
The prohibition notice, served on Tuesday, June 27, came following concerns raised by the management company responsible for the premises. Investigations from TWFRS found that there was "insufficient fire resisting separation between individual residential flats on all levels and other residential flats within the property".
