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Persimmon Homes to send out fire safety warning letters to Aylesham Village as homeowner demands compensation

A home owner is demanding compensation after she discovered her timber framed property is missing vital fire safety barriers.

Last week KentOnline reported that residents living at Timperley Place in Deal had received a letter from Persimmon Homes warning that some timber framed properties there have not had cavity barriers correctly installed at roof level.

Now it has emerged that homes at Aylesham Village - also built by Persimmon - are missing the same fire safety measures.

The devastating fire in Cornfield Row in Deal in April 2018 Picture: Bliss Wilson
The devastating fire in Cornfield Row in Deal in April 2018 Picture: Bliss Wilson

Michelle Pegley, 40, has lived in her home in Dorman Avenue North in Aylesham since July 2017 and claimed she had to contact the housebuilding giant herself after reading the news on social media.

An inspection was carried out last Thursday and her home failed to meet the required standard in safety tests.

Persimmon Homes say it will issue letters about cavity barriers to homes in Aylesham Village from this week
Persimmon Homes say it will issue letters about cavity barriers to homes in Aylesham Village from this week

She said: “It’s a bit too late to be sending the letters out. They should have got the letters out as soon as they found out. Lives could be at risk.

“I feel unsafe in my own home.

“We’ve put all this money into buying a house that’s brand new to find out these barriers haven’t been put in.

“I feel I’ve been failed and we should get some sort of compensation.”

Cavity barriers are designed to seal against fire and smoke
Cavity barriers are designed to seal against fire and smoke

The revelation comes after a blaze ravaged two homes in Cornfield Row, Deal, last April and caused damage to a third.

The incident prompted concerns over how quickly the flames took hold.

Cavity barriers, made from flexible fireproof sponge, should be used to conceal voids between the brick and frame of a house and are designed to inhibit the spread of fire.

Aylesham resident Louise Simpson said: “We wouldn’t have known about it if it hadn’t been for social media. It is worrying as the Aylesham development is significant with hundreds of houses built and many more to come.”

The fire ravaged home in Cornfield Row in Deal remains under reconstruction
The fire ravaged home in Cornfield Row in Deal remains under reconstruction

Persimmon Homes told KentOnline it will be issuing letters to residents at Aylesham Village from this week.

A spokesman said: “The company currently has 22 active sites, which includes all phases on multi-phase developments. Investigations are ongoing.”

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