FAMILIES have been left in limbo after it emerged flats were not built to fire safety standards.

Concerns about apartments on Cambridge's Arbury Park development are preventing people moving into their new homes.

Couples are living apart and some children are believed to have missed out on school places because of the delay. Safety measures did not work during a blaze earlier this year in a flat which was already occupied.

Self-closing doors failed when the tenant and her neighbour fled their homes, meaning the lobby filled with smoke, and fumes were able to travel up a lift shaft because of poor ventilation, clogging up a third-floor landing.

Firefighters put an improvement notice on the two blocks, on Chieftain Way, which are currently occupied, and are still waiting for improvements in the lobby and lift area to be sorted out.

They have asked building control inspectors not to allow people to move into another two blocks, with between 14 and 28 flats in each, until further safety work has been completed.

One of those left waiting is 44- year-old Rose Fraser, a bedder at Trinity College.

She said: "I went round the flat to see it and I was told there would be a place for me. But I didn't hear anything for a few weeks and then I was told there was a problem with the smoke.

"At the moment I'm stopping with friends and all of my things are in bags and suitcases. I hoped this would be a new start but this is getting me down - and I want to be confident it will be safe when I move in."

Another woman waiting to move in, who asked not to be named, said: "I have just come out of a marriage and this was going to be perfect for me.

"But now my hopes have been dashed. I'm staying with my mum at the moment and my three-piece suite is on her patio."

Chris Smith, fire safety manager for South Cambridgeshire, said: "We have identified areas of concern regarding fire safety at four separate blocks of flats in Arbury Park.

"To combat the danger to residents, the fire service has issued an improvement notice on the two blocks of flats which are currently inhabited.

"Fire service personnel have also asked for the building control inspector not to grant permission for the additional two blocks to be opened until further fire safety work has been completed."

The developers, Inspace, have until October 1 to make the improvements.

The firm had already come in for criticism after two houses on Arbury Park were built 18 inches out of place, forcing the guided busway route bordering the site to be shifted.

The company was unavailable for comment.

A spokeswoman for South Cambridgeshire District Council said:

"Changes need to be made to the lobby and lift area in the homes on Chieftain Way, Arbury Park, before they are passed as safe means of escape by the fire service."

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