24 October 2009

MP Hill's 'nervous' tower block visit


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MP Hill's 'nervous' tower block visit

Thursday, 22 October 2009

The fatal Camberwell Fire

The fatal Camberwell Fire

THE chairman of a council’s housing department paid a visit to residents in the wake of a public scandal over lack of fire safety checks on tower blocks.

Keith Hill, MP for Streatham, took on the role as chairman of Lambeth council’s housing firm Lambeth Living last month.

The authority was revealed as having carried out fire safety checks on only two of its 112 residential blocks of six storeys or higher.

Former housing minister Mr Hill visited Brittany Point on the Ethelred Estate in Kennington on Friday.

He said: “It’s a matter of fact that Lambeth currently has the lowest level of fire risk assessment, but there has been a programme in place for the completion of the assessments.

“I think it’s a very big challenge. Lambeth Living has inherited a lot of problems.

"I don’t condone it, but I think we’ve now got the opportunity to take a fresh start.”

Lambeth Living has said that all tower blocks of 10 floors and above will have their checks completed by December.

Tower blocks of six to nine storeys will be completed by the following March and any remaining blocks of five storeys and under will be completed by 2011.

Mr Hill said the dates for the safety checks were already in place before the fatal Camberwell Fire that claimed six lives on July 3.

He said: “It would be wrong to think it’s a reaction to that.”

Brittany Point resident, Steve Rice, led Mr Hill on a tour of the block – one of three on the estate that are currently undergoing a £20million renovation.

Mr Hill said it made him feel “nervous” to see additional “fire hazards”, including exposed wires, debris and fixtures dangling in communal areas in the building.

He said: “I’m impressed by the scale of the works but there’s finishing that needs to be done.”

Officers from Lambeth Living sent staff on a blitz on October 8 to remove items placed on communal landings following fire safety instructions from London Fire Brigade.

Mr Rice said he was pleased about Mr Hill’s visit.

He said: “I think he understands things from residents’ point of view.”

Email: nadia.gilani@slp.co.uk

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