Hampshire flat fire victims need more information and access, MP says

Kit Malthouse, Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire, said residents of Dairy Court, which burned down in a June fire, need to be kept up to date with the investigation and "access to recoverable possessions."

The MP said: "The fire at Dairy Court was a dark day for Andover. Many people lost their homes and possessions, and the impact has been deeply traumatic for them.

"My first priority has been to make sure residents are properly supported.

MP Kit Malthouse(Image: House of Commons)

"The immediate job was finding alternative accommodation, and while some people have now returned to their flats, others are still in temporary housing or waiting to be rehoused.

"I have been pressing Sovereign to provide financial help for those displaced, and I've been reassured that residents are receiving payments for damage or loss, depending on their individual circumstances.

"Many are understandably frustrated that they have no means of looking for, or accessing, their belongings.

"Although the fire caused serious and extensive damage, I am pushing Sovereign to arrange for anything recoverable to be safely retrieved and returned back to their owners as soon as practicable.

"Residents also need clear information about the investigation, and I’m arranging a meeting with Hampshire Fire and Rescue so people can hear directly from them.

"Meanwhile, Test Valley Borough Council has set up a dedicated webpage for those affected. You can access it at: https://www.testvalley.gov.uk/housing/dairycourtsupport."

A spokesperson for Test Valley Borough Council said its work has now largely ceased, with residents who are social tenants and cannot return having been nominated or have moved into new homes.

A spokesperson for Sovereign said: "The safety and well-being of all residents affected by the fire at Dairy Court remain our top priority.

"Since the incident, we have taken a range of steps to support our customers, including providing immediate temporary accommodation, permanent new homes for those unable to return, financial support, and regular updates to customers and the MP.

"We have also ensured customers can reach us directly through a 24/7 phone line and dedicated email.

“We’re considering how best to reunite customers with their belongings, and we recognise this delay will be frustrating.

"We will update all affected customers as soon as we can.

"The initial investigation concluded the cause of the fire was unknown.

"The fire service has advised that the extent of the damage means that they haven’t been able to investigate further, and it may never be possible to identify the exact cause."

“We would like to reiterate our thanks to the emergency services, the local authority, the MP and the wider community for the continued support they have shown to Dairy Court residents."