Residents of Bronte House on Newport Road are left in shock following the discovery of a deceased neighbour, raising concerns about the response from the housing association and the impact on the community.
Residents at Bronte House, an apartment complex on Newport Road in Cardiff city centre, found themselves in distress after the tragic discovery of a deceased neighbour in his flat on Friday evening, March 21. South Wales Police confirmed that the death is not considered suspicious and that the next of kin has been notified.
The discovery of the man’s body has left many residents concerned, with reports suggesting that he may have been dead for an extended period prior to the police intervention. Neighbours reported being subjected to a foul odour permeating the building, which escalated alarmingly over the course of the week. One resident noted that she initially assumed the smell was from rubbish but began to suspect something more serious as the week progressed. “I thought it may be rubbish piled up by the door but I did start to think… that it doesn’t just smell like rubbish but something worse,” she recalled.
The situation reached a critical point when police were called to respond to welfare concerns from other residents, ultimately gaining entry to the flat to make the grim discovery. As officers conducted their investigation, the flat remained open for several hours, allowing ventilation, and the police assured residents that the property would be secured to help mitigate the unpleasant odour.
However, distress escalated for the residents when they found that the smell had intensified by Saturday morning. One mother, who wished to remain anonymous and has three children, described living through the ordeal as a “horrific situation.” She expressed her dismay over the response from Linc Cymru, the housing association managing Bronte House, which she criticised for not taking prompt action regarding the foul odour. “I understand that cleaning crews may not be able to be instructed until Monday but the door being like that is contributing to the problem,” she said, articulating her frustration over the lack of ventilation in the corridor.
Despite raising her concerns, the resident received minimal response from Linc Cymru, reportedly only receiving a note stating they would not return over the weekend to address the situation. Her nine-year-old child has been particularly affected by the unfolding events, raising questions that the mother found difficult to answer due to the distressing circumstances. “I wasn’t able to take her to school on Monday because we’d have to walk through the corridor,” she explained, highlighting the emotional strain on her family.
In light of the complaints, Linc Cymru stated that they would review their procedures and issued an apology for the upset experienced by residents. A spokesperson for the housing association outlined that their protocols require confirmation from authorities before entering a property following a death. “Normal practice is to wait for confirmation that it is okay to gain access without risk of interfering with any ongoing investigations,” they said, confirming that arrangements had been made for a deep clean once the property was deemed secure.
The police confirmed that they are continuing their enquiries into the situation and have been in contact with local residents regarding their concerns. As the investigation proceeds, tension continues to linger at Bronte House as residents cope with the aftermath of this tragic event, emphasising the importance of community support amidst the distress.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.south-wales.police.uk/ – Provides general information about South Wales Police procedures, including how they handle non-suspicious deaths.
- https://www.linc-cymru.co.uk/ – Gives insights into Linc Cymru’s housing policies and how they manage residential properties like Bronte House.
- https://www.wales.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-regeneration/publications/guidance-for-social-landlords-on-managing-and-maintaining-their-homes-and-estates/?lang=en – Outlines guidelines for social landlords in Wales, including procedures for handling maintenance and emergency situations.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/8/contents – Refers to the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which deals with managing nuisances like foul odours.
- https://www.gov.uk/report-environmental-incidents – Details how to report environmental concerns such as foul odours to authorities.
- https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/death – Provides general guidance on handling deaths in care settings, which can offer insights into protocols following a death.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references a recent discovery of a body and ongoing police inquiries, suggesting that the content is current and likely published shortly after the incident.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes are included but do not appear in previous publications. They seem original, as they reflect personal reactions to the distressing event.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The Express is a known publication with a wide readership, generally considered reliable for news reporting. However, some caution is advisable due to potential sensationalism.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The circumstances described are plausible given the context of a body discovery and subsequent response from authorities and housing associations.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current, with original quotes that seem genuine. The source is generally reliable, and the events described are plausible. However, caution should be exercised due to potential sensationalism.
