Lib Dems call for public meeting and action to improve safety in Brentford Towers

4.48.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 5th Oct 2009

Cllr Dakers is calling on Hounslow Homes to organise a public meeting and set out measures that will be taken to improve fire safety

Following a BBC investigation into the safety of the Brentford tower blocks on Green Dragon Lane Lib Dem councillor and prospective MP Andrew Dakers has today called upon the Chief Executive of Hounslow Homes to organise a public meeting urgently to set out to residents the results of a newly commissioned fire risk assessment and measures that will be taken to improve safety. Cllr Dakers first raised his concerns with Hounslow Homes in July 2009 following the incident in Southwark. UPDATE (7 Oct 09): Cllr Dakers has been advised that late on Tuesday afternoon it was confirmed that, following the BBC report, the Assistant Commissioner from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) asked for the local fire service to do an inspection at Cornish House, this was carried out by Martin Green. The LFB have reported to Hounslow Homes on Wednesday morning that their officer has identified some 'odds and sods, minor issues' and that the recommendation to the Assistant Commissioner will be that there is no case for looking at other Hounslow blocks. The LFB report will come to Hounslow Homes next week.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth constituency, said:

"BBC reports that of 37 tower blocks in Hounslow, none have valid fire risk assessments are shocking. I am deeply concerned that a chartered surveyor asked by the BBC to conduct an assessment has said of Cornish House that: "It's not just that there were loads of faults - they've been increasing over the years as more shoddy work is carried out. I would describe the risk level as off the Richter scale. I would not want to live in that building."

"When I first asked questions of Hounslow Homes' officers regarding fire safety in July 2009 the lack of fire risk assessments was not brought to my attention. It is impossible for councillors to do our job of mobilising more resources for priority issues if we are not given the fullest information in the first place.

"However I do believe that Hounslow Homes' officers have been striving to assess risks since the incident in Southwark, and for this reason I am putting my July correspondence with them in the public domain.

"I have today called on the Chief Executive of Hounslow Homes to organise a public meeting immediately to set out measures that will be taken to improve safety. Hounslow Homes must now be given the fullest backing by the local council, our local MP and the Treasury to ensure that the necessary money is found for improvement works.

"We must now have independent assessors to advise on whether gas is still appropriate for cooking in the tower blocks or whether we should move to electric. We must see further improvements to signage. We must look at installing alarm systems and introducing fire drills. And we must see action taken on all the other risks identified by the surveyor the BBC asked to conduct the assessment."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Extract from email from Cllr Dakers to Hounslow Homes on 28 July 2009:

The attachment referred to "Follow your practised fire escape plan."

Cllr Dakers - When do these practised plans take place?

In the note below you say: "Immediately following the last leak in January 2009 twelve of the twenty four risers were visually inspected to ascertain the level of corrosion and to establish the level of risk. These were inspected at several points throughout their length. Only two showed minor signs of deterioration all the others looked to be in good condition."

Cllr Dakers - When will visual inspections take place on the other twelve?

Response from Hounslow Homes 29 July 2009:

There is no established practice for fire drills as such in blocks - these would be difficult to manage as there are no alarm systems, and asking all residents to leave their homes via staircases only would only be considered in a real emergency. Unlike in office premises of course we would never know who was at home at the time, or be able to check that they had left their flat.

The intention of the leaflet is that residents, based on the information in the leaflet and the physical layout of their flat and block, would establish for themselves what to do in the event of a fire. This isn't very clear though and we will re word the leaflet to make it clearer.

We are of course reviewing our risk assessments and these may reveal the need for improved signage of fire escape routes etc in some blocks, or other improvements to fire safety systems.

Response from Hounslow Homes 31 July 2009:

Originally there were 24 riser in total in the 6 tower blocks.

Of those 3 have been previously removed and converted to electricity for cooking purposes, as all heat is provided through a communal system

Of the remaining 21 risers all have been inspected and continue to be monitored and reinspected on a monthly basis.

Cornish House fire hazards

• No fire resistance between flats and lifts - during fire residents would be trapped as smoke and fire spread by lift shaft acting as a "chimney".

• A padlock on one fire escape and no release bar on another. It took the expert several minutes to work out how to open it. Emergency lighting by the escape removed - residents could face opening it in darkness.

• Holes bored through ceilings for cables wide enough to allow flame to pass, accelerating fire spread.

• A section of floor smashed through following a water leak fire proofed with plastic bag

• Fireman's entry switch broken, denying emergency services access to the block.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8290103.stm - 5 October 2009

ENDS