Fires in Silva Homes garages leaves residents feeling 'unsafe'

The most recent blaze started at 2am on July 31 in two neighbouring garages on Hart Close, Bracknell – with pictures showing the blaze and aftermath of the scene.

It is not known if they were deliberate or accidental. The police and fire services have not responded.

Rafael Cayenne-Mensah, who lives approximately 150 metres away, said he woke up smelling smoke, and worried that the fire was in his property.

He said the latest in a string of fires – taking place from February - showed that the situation was ‘getting out of hand’, and that he worried for residents’ safety.

The garages, some of which currently belong to nearby residents, are set to be demolished by Silva Homes, the company that runs the housing estate.

They have been the site of five fires in the last five months, according to another neighbour, Brian Ackroyd.

He claims that upon contacting the police on the issue he was told to go to the council, who then told him to go to Silva Homes, who runs the development.

Mr Ackroyd, 67, told the News: “The only reason they’ve got that way is because Silva Homes has neglected them.

“Police aren’t doing anything about it. The council aren’t doing anything about it.”

He warned that if something isn’t done, ‘eventually somebody would get hurt’.

Mr Ackroyd, 67, previously told the News that fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour has become a ‘nightmare’ among the block of garages, which are set to be demolished and replaced with new homes.

The aftermath of the blaze on July 31 (Image: Rafael Cayenne-Mensah)

His neighbour Kelly Hargreaves, said that rubbish from fly-tipping was put in garages and then boarded up by Silva Homes, suggesting that these were the ones then catching fire.

'There's nobody from Silva monitoring the garages,' the 44-year-old told the News, claiming 'when the fly-tipping is reported, nothing is done'.

Mr Ackroyd said he doesn’t want to complain to Silva Homes about the issue, branding them a ‘bunch of idiots’ who have made his ‘life a misery’ over various disputes.

Mr Cayenne-Mensah, 39, said that the authorities ‘should share with the public what the causes are, if there are people that are deliberately doing it’.

Residents are also unhappy with the move from Silva Homes to demolish garages to turn into more housing due to the ‘chaos’ it will cause with parking.

Thames Valley Police, Bracknell Forest Council and Silva Homes have all been approached for comment.