Fire measures set out by Argyll housing body

THE LARGEST provider of social housing in Argyll has offered assurances over fire safety across its 5,000 homes.

The move by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) came in the wake of last week’s devastating blaze at the Grenfell Tower high rise flats in London, where at least 79 people are thought to have died.

Investigations continue into the cause of the fire, but early indications are that a flammable external wall cladding may have played a part in spreading the flames.

ACHA chief executive Alastair MacGregor said: ‘ACHA does carry out external wall insulation to its properties to improve the thermal efficiency of our homes.

‘The system we use is installed directly on to the face of the external wall and is non-combustible.

‘The association also carries out a number of fire safety-related tasks. All of our properties with solid fuel fires have the chimneys swept twice a year, the flues are inspected and any defective ones are replaced.

‘In the association’s 11 sheltered housing complexes, where we have over 200 tenants, there are weekly fire alarm tests and there is fire safety equipment located throughout the buildings. All of ACHA’s 5,100 homes have a smoke alarm fitted within them.’

Mr MacGregor added that fly-tipped material, which may constitute a fire hazard, is regularly removed from ACHA properties.

He continued: ‘The association has a good working partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and it provides fire safety talks to tenants as and when required.’

Separately, Argyll and Bute Council offered its own reassurance to the public.

A spokesperson said: ‘There are very few council buildings in Argyll and Bute with cladding and all our properties are subject of regular formalised inspections.

‘There are no plans to review their construction. However, we will comply with any directives arising from the London tragedy.’