Residents of an Ealing Council-owned tower block on the Golf Links Estate in Southall remain displaced a week after a red diesel leak forced the evacuation of the 13-storey building.
The evacuation affected all 72 households at Sheringham Tower, which was built in the mid-1960s, displacing more than 150 people, according to a resident who spoke to EALING.NEWS.
Ealing Council says investigations and repairs are continuing, but has not said how much diesel escaped, what caused the leak or when residents will be able to return home.
London Fire Brigade was called to Sheringham Tower at 7.26pm last Tuesday (1 September 2026) following reports of an unknown liquid leaking into the building from tanks at its base.
The Brigade said specialist officers identified the liquid as red diesel before firefighters evacuated the building as a precaution and worked to contain the leak.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Residents from the block were relocated to a rest centre and are supported by the local authority.”
Crews from Southall, Acton, Euston and surrounding fire stations attended. The incident was over for firefighters at 4.20am on Wednesday morning.
A council tenant at Sheringham Tower told EALING.NEWS that she had not previously known fuel tanks were located within the building.
The resident, who has asked not to be named, said she learned about the evacuation from a friend living on the second floor at around 8.30pm and left the building approximately 20 minutes later.
She said: “The 12th floor had not been informed and my neighbours didn’t think it was a problem, so had to be persuaded to leave. I believe the 11th floor was the same.”
She also said another resident told her directly that she had remained inside the tower overnight, unaware that an evacuation had taken place, and was not informed until around 1pm on Wednesday.
Residents were taken to Golf Links Community Centre, where the tenant said they were allowed inside at around 10.30pm.
According to her account, firefighters told residents that the liquid was red diesel and that the source of the leak had not been identified at that stage. They were also told that gas and electricity supplies had been turned off and were given estimates of the amount of diesel involved.
However, neither London Fire Brigade nor Ealing Council has confirmed how much diesel was stored in the tanks or how much escaped.
The resident added: “I have lived at Sheringham Tower for many, many years. I was completely unaware that these fuel tanks even existed. Neither I nor my neighbours were aware that fuel was being stored within the building at all.”
She said council emergency volunteers helped residents retrieve medication, car keys and pets from the tower during the night. Residents who could not stay with friends or relatives were offered hotel accommodation.
The tenant said she initially declined a hotel room so that accommodation could be prioritised for families with children and instead slept in a chair at her husband’s workplace.
Residents were subsequently offered temporary accommodation, although she claimed some of the properties were unfurnished, resulting in hotels having to be arranged.
A week after the evacuation, residents said they still do not have access to their homes other than at specified times to collect belongings, with people remaining in hotels or other temporary accommodation.
The resident added that the lift was taken out of service due to the incident and people have to use the stairs when returning to collect belongings. For those who are elderly or have limited mobility, she said no help was being offered to get upstairs and retrieve items they needed from their flats.
She said: “The biggest concern is still the lack of clear information. Residents don’t know when they can return, the full extent of the diesel leak or contamination, what investigations have found so far or what repairs and remediation will actually be required.”
Residents have also raised questions about whether they will be expected to meet utility bills and council tax at temporary properties while remaining unable to occupy their homes.
Several residents have questioned where their local Dormers Wells ward councillors have been since the evacuation, saying they want their elected representatives to support them and help get answers about what is happening.
The resident said she had also specifically asked Ealing Council to arrange a residents’ meeting so that those affected could raise their questions and concerns together.
She added: “The response I received was that they currently cannot say when a residents’ meeting will take place and that residents will be informed when they have an update.”
Ealing Council has confirmed that it owns Sheringham Tower and is the building’s landlord.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The council’s priority throughout this incident has been to make sure residents are safe and well, have a place to stay and are supported until they can return to their homes.
“We have provided alternative accommodation for everyone who needs it while we make sure that the building is safe and ready for them to return. Council teams and contractors are on site and around the area now, carrying out investigative work and repairs.
“Housing officers are in direct contact with residents who are impacted and will keep them updated on timescales.
“We are doing everything we can to support residents and deal with this as swiftly as possible whilst also making sure all the repairs and checks are thoroughly carried out.”
Sheringham Tower is classed as a higher-risk building under the Building Safety Act, with the council identified as its principal accountable person.
EALING.NEWS asked Ealing Council about the amount and purpose of the fuel, what caused the leak, the inspection and maintenance of the tanks and the evacuation. The council was also asked when residents could return home and whether the findings of its investigation would be made public.
Ealing Council told EALING.NEWS that an investigation and assessment were under way to establish what happened.
