<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3p0Ch4_0vHnRjjU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3p0Ch4_0vHnRjjU00" width="2016" height="1134" > Emily Coady-Stemp/BBC <figcaption>Resident Mike Paternoster said he would like the cladding replaced before winter </figcaption></figure> Estate residents in Surrey have spoken of their concern for the coming winter after the council removed cladding from their walls. The residents, of Lakeview estate in Woking, fear their homes will not be as well-insulated, which could lead to higher fuel bills. Speaking to BBC South East, they said they also wanted more communication from the council on its plan for replacing the cladding, which was removed due to fire safety concerns. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> A Woking Borough Council spokesperson said the safety of all tenants and their families was its priority and a meeting would be held with them in September. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3i8vT7_0vHnRjjU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3i8vT7_0vHnRjjU00" width="2016" height="1134" > Emily Coady-Stemp/BBC <figcaption>Zalal Abdul lives with his children on the estate </figcaption></figure> Zalal Abdul, a leaseholder on the estate, lives with his children, aged five and 15. He said he thought that, when the cladding was removed in May, the council would have replaced it straight away. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> "It’s quite horrible with winter time coming," he said. The council’s website said it was aiming to confirm a replacement cladding system by the end of the year and to start works to reinstate it in Spring 2025. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4d1Ph5_0vHnRjjU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4d1Ph5_0vHnRjjU00" width="2016" height="1134" > Emily Coady-Stemp/BBC <figcaption>The council has removed the cladding due to fire safety concerns </figcaption></figure> Bur Mike Paternoster, who has been a resident for 27 years, would like it replaced sooner. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Mr Paternoster lives with his wife who has cancer and the couple stand to lose their winter fuel allowance this year. He said he was concerned the wall still had "numerous holes and is unprotected from the elements". He understood the reasons why the cladding had to be removed, but said: "We’d like to see it properly replaced before winter." Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said she thought there had been a fire at the estate when she came back and saw the cladding had gone. She said: "We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, I’m worried about keeping my home warm, I’m worried about damp." The Woking councillor responsible for housing, Ian Johnson, said a formal complaint about the cladding removal made by residents was being investigated. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> He pointed to a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qe3w8wvpqo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> fire in a block of flats in Dagenham in August </a> as a reminder "of the potential dangers of certain types of cladding on residential buildings". <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Pe7NO_0vHnRjjU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Pe7NO_0vHnRjjU00" width="2016" height="1134" > Emily Coady-Stemp/BBC <figcaption>Woking Borough Council has planned a meeting with residents for the end of September </figcaption></figure> Mr Johnson confirmed it had been "necessary" to remove sections of cladding from 14 blocks on the estate over concerns that "the cladding on the front of the blocks could compromise people’s means of escape" if it caught fire. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> He said: "Whilst we appreciate the housing blocks look unsightly, the safety of all tenants and their families is our priority. "We have also committed to ensuring that the buildings remain watertight until new cladding is installed." Follow BBC Surrey on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BBCSurrey/" rel="nofollow"> Facebook </a> , and on <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSurrey" rel="nofollow"> X </a> . Send your story ideas to <a href="mailto:southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk" rel="nofollow"> southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk </a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. <h2> More on this story </h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz478gp7pvyo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> More than 1,600 fire safety tasks outstanding - council </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-67728109?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> Hundreds of council homes lack fire safety checks </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qe3w8wvpqo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bnewsbreak.com%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D" rel="nofollow"> No alarm and escape was locked, say fire victims </a></li></ul><h2> Related Internet Links </h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.woking.gov.uk/" rel="nofollow"> Woking Borough Council </a></li></ul><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate></div></body>

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Families fear winter after estate cladding removal

The council says a meeting will be held soon and the \"safety of all our tenants\" is its priority.

The council says a meeting will be held soon and the "safety of all our tenants" is its priority.

Families fear winter after estate cladding removal

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