Residents of a high-rise block in College Bank were forced to evacuate and spend two nights in emergency accommodation after a burst pipe triggered a power failure, plunging flats into darkness.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has praised the resilience of residents at Tentercroft, College Bank, following a serious water leak that damaged the building’s electrical systems and forced the evacuation of 46 households.
The incident began on Sunday night when a burst pipe led to flooding in the block’s electrical infrastructure. With safety concerns paramount, power was cut to the flats and lifts, leaving many residents temporarily without heating, lighting or access to upper floors.
Engineers and housing officers worked through the night to contain the damage and assess the risks. With emergency repairs underway, RBH quickly mobilised teams to conduct welfare checks and keep residents informed.
By Monday morning, a welfare centre had been set up in the community room at nearby Mitchell Hey. The centre offered warmth, refreshments, and access to support from RBH staff, particularly for residents who opted to remain in their homes during the initial response phase.
Cllr Iram Faisal, said
I would like to thank the entire team from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for their great work in evacuating the residents and sheltering them. I would also like to thank the senior management for stepping in and assuring me that any food in the fridge /freezer lost due the power shortage would be reimbursed to the residents.
This was a very critical time and your support in transporting residents to and from accommodation has been really appreciated.
When it became apparent that power restoration and safety checks would take longer than anticipated, RBH arranged emergency hotel accommodation for all residents for two nights. Staff were tasked with securing placements for dozens of households at short notice.
Final safety inspections were completed by Wednesday morning, and residents were gradually allowed to return home with support from RBH teams.
A spokesperson for RBH said:
“This has been an extremely challenging few days, and we are incredibly grateful to the residents for their patience and understanding. We also want to thank our colleagues, too many to name, who worked round the clock to prioritise residents’ safety and welfare.”
Several residents have since contacted the housing provider to express their thanks for the assistance provided throughout the disruption.
College Bank, often referred to as ‘the Seven Sisters’, has long been a focal point of social housing in Rochdale and has seen continued attention over housing standards, safety, and regeneration plans.
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