'Lives at stake' in tower block with broken lifts
The Grade II listed Balfron Tower in Poplar has 146 flats and maisonettes, and is managed by property management company Way of Life, which has said it is investigating the situation.
Some disabled people had "no option" but to leave their homes, neighbours said, because there was no safe way to get in and out.
One resident, Peter, who posted on social media about the problem, said Way for Life had told him to remove his comment or the company would stop helping him get supplies into the building.
Peter, 58, who did not want to give his surname, cannot use the stairs because of a spinal injury.
He said he knew other tenants who were avoiding using the lifts - when they worked - because they were fearful of them breaking down.
He said he was concerned about safety and that "lives were at stake here".
"What if there is an emergency? What if I have a heart attack? Anyone who can't use the stairs will be in great danger," he said.
Another resident, 22-year-old Vasundhata Gupte, has been forced to climb 15 flights of stairs with a hamstring injury when she returns from medical appointments.
Ms Gupte said she had asked Way for Life about what to do during an emergency and was told they "did not have an answer".
Sophie Ruston can use the stairs - but has to carry her elderly dog up and down to her 21st floor flat.
One lift has been out of order for a week and the other is "temperamental", residents said.
When the second lift broke down, Ms Ruston said "chaos ensued".
She added the situation meant she would finish a 10-hour night shift, during which she was on her feet, and was faced with climbing another 21 flights when she got home.
Way of Life provided a service while both lifts were broken where essential supplies were taken to stranded residents.
A spokesperson said the company had apologised to Peter, and added that "the behaviour outlined to us is very disappointing and absolutely does not reflect the values and conduct to which we aspire as a business".
A number of staff based in the tower had been temporarily removed while the allegations were being investigated, Way of Life said.
The Balfron Tower was designed by Hungarian-born architect Ernő Goldfinger in 1963 and was built between 1965 and 1967 as part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing.
Way of Life runs a number of residential blocks in London and elsewhere. It currently has eight apartments available for long-term rental at Balfron Tower, ranging from £2,050 per month for a one-bed flat to £3,850 for a three-bedroom home.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Council 'sorry' for tower block lift faults
Over 100 London tower blocks may have safety issues
Disabled man carried to flat after lift broke down
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Four generations, one legacy: McKims recognized as BMO Farm Family
The McKim family of DU Ranch have been named the 2025 BMO Farm Family for their multigenerational dedication to sustainable ranching and land stewardship in southern Alberta. With a heritage of raising Hereford cattle along the Livingstone Range since 1953, the McKims were nominated by the Municipal District of Pincher Creek for the annual award — an honour given to families in the districts south of Red Deer. The program is a partnership between the Calgary Stampede and the Bank of Montreal, recognizing southern Alberta farm families who exemplify the value of family-operated agriculture and contribute to rural life. This year, 19 families were honoured during a Stampede reception, with the McKims proudly representing the Pincher Creek area. Each winning family is featured in a commemorative booklet, and a copy will be on display at the MD administration office through the year. For the McKims, the award is more than just a plaque — it's a celebration of legacy, resilience and a shared commitment to the land across generations. 'We were very surprised. It was an extraordinary experience,' Puff McKim told Shootin' the Breeze. 'I do believe that every family deserves recognition. We've been living here since 1953. People recognized us as being worthy of being promoted. We appreciate that very much from the MD of Pincher Creek.' DU Ranch is now operated by Puff, husband Dan and daughter Kate McKim. Kate's sons, 13-year-old Liam Keil and eight-year-old Jase Keil, represent the fourth generation growing up on the ranch, continuing the family's deep-rooted connection to the land. The story begins with Puff's parents, Louis and Carey Dupret, who purchased the 2,500-acre mountain property in 1953 after moving from New Jersey to Blairmore. Louis, a French-born mining engineer, often travelled for work so Carey gradually took over the ranch operations, eventually building a reputable purebred Hereford herd. 'My mother was truly a pioneer,' said Puff. 'She worked hard at building a terrific cow herd in a business that was run mainly by men. I think my journey was easier because she'd already paved the way.' She also credited her father and husband for making the ranch the way it is now. 'The men in our lives are very important,' she said. 'My father designed all the buildings, and he helped my mother create this amazing herd of cattle. My husband, Dan, also works hand-and-foot with the rest of us.' Puff, who always had a fondness for cattle and horses, joined her mother back on the ranch in 1978 with Dan. For the last 47 years, they've raised sustainable and mountain-grown cattle. At one point in the 1980s, the McKims ran up to 200 pairs of purebred Herefords, but the herd was scaled back in the early 2000s following the BSE crisis. Today, the ranch supports 50 cow-calf pairs. But cows aren't the only thing you can find at DU. Puff and Dan's daughter, Kate, started her own business on the land in 2011. Centre Peak High Country Adventures offers riding lessons, trail rides and immersive ranch getaways. 'I was looking for ways to diversify the ranch, but at the same time being able to share with people what we do,' Kate said. 'I wanted to show the world that we are stewards of the land, and to allow people to kind of get back to their roots. I really wanted to set myself apart from other operators by offering that one-on-one experience. So I don't put different groups together.' On top of horseback riding, the ranch also offers getaways to guests. People can book stays at the Ranch Hand, a DU ranch stucco house, or Pioneer, a circa-1900 log cabin designated a municipal historic site in 2007. Kate feels deeply connected to the legacy of her grandparents, who started DU Ranch more than seven decades ago. 'My grandmother didn't know anything about cattle, and neither did my grandfather,' she said. 'But she was a tough lady, living in a man's world and trying to run a ranch. And she did quite well with it.' Kate said her mother, Puff, followed in those same footsteps alongside her father, and now she's proud to be carving her own path while remaining part of the family's ranching tradition. 'To me, it's inspiring,' she said. 'I'm forever grateful to my grandparents for starting what they started, because if it hadn't been for them, it wouldn't be possible for me to do what I'm doing.' Beyond welcoming visitors, the McKims have also worked with conservation programs like MultiSAR to protect wildlife habitat on their land. Fifteen species at risk have been identified on the ranch, and the family is committed to sustainable grazing and water stewardship. 'We maintain and take care of all the land under our stewardship. We're lucky that the valley remains fairly undisturbed,' Puff said. 'The wildlife lives without interference from people, and these critters have always been on the landscape — all these species that are supposedly at risk today. They've always thrived here, up and down the valley.' 'That's why it's so important to hang on to,' she continued, 'to maintain and keep safe everything we're fortunate enough to live next to.' Despite the changes that have come over seven decades, the family's focus on sustainability and co-operation hasn't wavered. 'We've always worked as a family unit,' Puff said. 'We all have the same idea in mind, which is to keep the ranch going and keep everything as healthy and as beautiful as it is in the valley.' Kate agrees with her mother. 'Working with family can be challenging, so having that open communication is very important,' she said. 'But being able to come together at the end of the day and be humble about who we are as humans is pretty important.' That groundedness is perhaps the ranch's greatest asset. From Louis's early vision to Carey's strength, from Puff and Dan's decades of dedication to Kate's passion for sharing ranch life — the DU Ranch remains a living story, still unfolding. 'My grandparents' story is quite inspiring, and to be able to live that legacy is pretty incredible,' Kate said. 'I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be doing what I'm doing.' Looking forward, the McKims hope their ranch 'can survive and stay in the family,' said Puff. Kate echoed that sentiment. 'I want to carry on with the cow herd we currently have, perhaps build it up to be a little bit bigger, if we can sustain it,' she said. 'Hopefully the boys [her sons] will one day want to be here and take it over.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Washington Post
To lead at sea, we must understand the sea
Peter de Menocal is president and director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Margaret Leinen is director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor for marine sciences at the University of California at San Diego. John Richardson, a retired Navy admiral, was chief of naval operations and director of strategy and policy at the U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
First U.S. born male saint could be from Wisconsin. Who are the female American saints?
Almost 70 years after his death, the Solanus Casey Foundation is building momentum to make the Wisconsin-born priest a saint. If it succeeds, he would be the first U.S.-born male ever canonized. Two saints were born in the United States: Elizabeth Ann Seton, born in New York in 1774 and canonized in 1975; and Katharine Mary Drexel, born in Philadelphia in 1858 and canonized in 2000. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in Ossernenon near what is now Auriesville, New York 1656 and canonized in 2012. However, she was born in a Mohawk village; the United States didn't exist at the time. She became the first Indigenous saint. More: Hundreds lined up daily to meet Wisconsin-born priest. Now, he's on path to sainthood. The first male saint tied to the United States was John Neumann, born in 1811 and canonized in 1977. However, he was born in Prachatice, Czechia. Casey was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, northwest of Milwaukee in Dodge County, in 1870. He was the sixth child in a family of 10 boys and six girls. As he grew older, Casey took on a variety of jobs, such as lumberjack, prison guard and trolley operator. He was ordained in 1904 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer at Milwaukee's St. Francis of Assisi Church. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Catholic saints were born in America? Solve the daily Crossword
