Residents of Parliament Place in Toxteth have described a range of issues at the apartment block, including blood left on a wall following an assault and frequent fire service callouts, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. The block was previously identified as being at high risk for fires catching and spreading, with waking watch patrols introduced.
Fire Safety Concerns and Evacuation Confusion
In December last year, the ECHO reported that residents in several Liverpool apartment blocks, including Parliament Place and buildings at Wolstenholme Square, had been told their buildings were at "high risk" for fires. Remedial work was proposed to remove combustible materials found within them.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said the fire service had been called to the block numerous times in recent weeks. The resident shared images showing construction barriers completely blocking a fire escape, with a notice reading: "Please use front door only (EXCEPT in case of emergency)."
The resident claimed that signs in the building still show the former "stay put" guidance, despite the evacuation strategy having changed to "simultaneous evacuation" after combustible materials were found. This has led to confusion, with only some residents leaving the building during an evacuation.
Violence and Cleanliness Complaints
The resident also reported a violent incident where a man was seriously injured in an attack, leaving blood on a wall for weeks. They mentioned fish bones left in corridors and a woman who refused to let firefighters into her flat, requiring police to break down her door. Graffiti reading "get us out of here" has been written on walls.
SM Building Management, which manages the block, told the ECHO that a waking watch had been removed following completion of fire alarm works, and that signage had been updated accordingly. They stated that during ongoing cladding remediation works, one fire escape was temporarily restricted, but two alternative routes remained available, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service raised no concerns.
Regarding the blood stains, the management said cleaners attended and removed them promptly following notification, and that graffiti and discarded food waste are caused by individuals within the building. They strongly refuted the suggestion that reported matters have been ignored, stating that the safety and management of the building remain a priority.
