Barbourne Residents Hold Powerful Meeting as Accommodation Extended

Residents of Barbourne Works have received a temporary reprieve in their fight for an answer to the ongoing situation surrounding their living status. Accommodation for evacuated residents has now been extended until Tuesday.

FirstPort has agreed to fund an extra night in hotels as a gesture of goodwill, though the company maintains it does not accept liability. This news follows a well-attended resident-led meeting held on Sunday, where spokespeople updated the group, shared key information, and discussed next steps.

The mood was determined and collaborative, with residents expressing pride in how the community has come together in the face of uncertainty. While the extension offers short-term relief, concerns remain. Residents staying with friends and family remain unsupported, and those booked into hotels by FirstPort have not received meals — unlike those placed by the council. With food costs mounting, many are finding the situation increasingly difficult to manage.

Cllr Jessie Jagger, who has been assisting residents, said “I’m glad that FirstPort has done the right thing by extending accommodation while the question of liability remains unresolved. What’s been truly inspiring is how residents have come together: a group of highly educated, motivated, and well-organised individuals supporting one another through an incredibly difficult time. They deserve answers, and they deserve better.”

Residents are now calling for a formal public forum where the companies involved — including FirstPort, Wallace Partnership Group, and Simarc — can respond to their questions on the public record.