Lib Dems Challenge 'Worse Offender' Lambeth to Complete Fire Safety Assessments.
September 30, 2009 7:15 PM
Following revelations that only two of the 112 tallest tower blocks in Lambeth have had the legally required Fire Risk Assessment carried out by the council, Opposition Liberal Democrats are challenging the council to complete the work in a month.
"If a team of experts is employed by the council now the work can be completed by the end of October. Then the real task of responding to the problems identified in the surveys can be got underway," said Lib Dem Leader on Lambeth Council, Councillor Ashley Lumsden.
Lambeth's shocking record on fire safety was exposed in a BBC TV investigation aired on Monday, branding the Labour-run Council as London's "worst offender". And a report to tenants tomorrow night reveals that "specialist consultants" have still to be appointed to carry out assessments on 950 blocks, including 181 of six storeys and above.
Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion to the next Lambeth Full Council meeting rejecting the timetable offered by the council's arms-length management company Lambeth Living to complete the work by 2011. "The tallest buildings should be assessed immediately with the rest following on straight away," said Cllr Lumsden.
"By the time the council comes to debate this motion on October 21 we will want to know how far the council has got in improving the safety of our tenants and leaseholders living in council housing blocks," he added.
Lambeth's Labour Council has a poor history of safety in its housing. Kerrin Point, a tower block in Kennington suffered a gas explosion after poor maintenance and only by good fortune was no-one seriously hurt of killed. The block was later demolished. But shockingly, a neighbouring 22-storey tower block on the same estate, Brittany Point, has now been described by an expert on the BBC's report as a "disaster waiting to happen". He described Lambeth as "seriously lacking" for failing to carry out fire safety assessments there. The expert identified fire hazards including:
- Flammable expanding foam around windows which would give off a thick black smoke if set alight.
- Gaps underneath fire-resistant panels, which would render them useless.
- Panels containing polystyrene which could melt, give off smoke and add fuel to flames.
Cllr Lumsden commented, "Labour in Lambeth are taking risks with the lives of tenants and leaseholders. But it's time for the council to clean up its act, carry out the fire assessments and start the work of making our council blocks safe places to live."
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