Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Thousands more living in deathtrap tower blocks
Thousands of residents may have to leave homes 600 high-rise blocks could have danger panels
TENS of thousands of people could be evacuated if their homes are found to have flammable cladding like Grenfell Tower.
The warning came as safety checks started at about 600 tower blocks across England yesterday amid fears they could be deathtraps. By last night, 11 residential blocks in eight local authority areas were confirmed to have potentially dangerous cladding fitted. If they fail further fire safety checks, the material will have to be removed – or the buildings cleared of residents until they are made safe. Panels on the outside of Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, are suspected to have helped the rapid spread of last week’s blaze, which left at least 79 people missing and presumed dead. Asked if any of the affected blocks would be evacuated, a No10 spokeswoman said: “Obviously nobody will be living in buildings that are unsafe. They will be rehoused if they need to be.” She added: “Failing this test does not necessarily mean that your building may be declared unsafe. It will be subject to further testing that is undertaken by the fire services.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the fact other blocks were fitted with combustible cladding confirmed “people’s worst fears”. And Labour’s Harriet Harman said the number was “chilling” before adding: “It will be a horrifying confirmation of what we all saw on our TV screens, but it will be even more frightening for others.” The Government, which is co-ordinating safety checks, has the capacity to test 100 blocks a day. It means assessing all 600 buildings will take until at least Tuesday. Only three of the councils affected so far have been named – Camden, Plymouth and Manchester. But people living in the twoyear-old Rivers Apartments in Tottenham, North London, have been told by Newlon Housing Trust that their building is wrapped in the same lethal material as Grenfell. In emails seen by the Daily Mirror, Newlon told residents that builder Galliford Try had revealed it used a flammable brand of panel, rather than the fire-resistant kind. Newlon’s housing services director Bill Henderson apparently told one resident: “This should not have been used in a building like Rivers.” The trust admitted to residents it is “very likely, almost certain” that the panels will be replaced. Since the news, the trust is running regular fire safety patrols on the site. Jack Williams, who lives on the ninth floor, said: “This is a two-year-old building, it should never have happened. “I think we’re in a precarious situation right now. It’s such a similar building to Grenfell, it’s really quite scary, to be honest.” A Galliford Try spokesman said last night: “At completion, Rivers Apartments received all the appropriate statutory approvals required under the contract including building regulations and building warranty. “The build includes a range of fire prevention measures including sprinklers in all flats, smoke ventilator shafts, fire lobbies, a fire-fighting lift and secured exit routes. “We are working closely with Newlon Housing Trust to review the technical aspects of the cladding used on the scheme while keeping the trust
its residents fully informed.” In nearby Barnet, abseiling engineers took samples from three blocks. And council bosses in Camden ordered cladding on four blocks on the Chalcots Estate to be stripped immediately. Rydon – the firm that oversaw the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower – installed panels on the high-rises, according to the firm’s website. Camden council leader Georgia Gould said while the material used was different from that at Grenfell Tower, it “did not satisfy our independent laboratory testing or the high standards we set for contractors”. In Greater Manchester, checks in Salford and Trafford showed no concerns while Stockport Homes hired contractors to take samples away as part of a safety review of its 22 blocks. Merseyside fire officials are also investigating cladding in local high-rises. But in Plymouth, Devon, some of the 400 residents of Devonport Towers spoke of their horror after being told three blocks could be dangerous. Sharon Chalmers, 35, who lives in the Lynher building, said: “It does worry me because I’ve got three kids. “It’s quite scary – especially as when there is a fire they tell us to stay indoors.” Ralph Davis, 78, added: “I want something done and fast. There have been fires here before.” In Doncaster, decorative detail on top of the cladding on the 17-storey Silverwood House, has been sent away for testing. Derby City Council said it was checking one block while nearby Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry, Nottingham and Wolverhampton all said their highand rises were not affected. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday refused to say if the cladding on Grenfell Tower was illegal. She said the type of material used was part of the ongoing criminal investigation but the results would be known within 48 hours. Mrs May also refused to say if fitting sprinklers in blocks like Grenfell Tower could prevent further disasters. She told MPS they did not “make the difference in all cases”. New Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad said the “tears may never stop” after the fatal blaze. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the tragedy as an “outrage”, adding: “Every single one of those deaths could and should have been avoided.” Nearly £1million in aid handouts had found its way to survivors and victims last night, with 354 households now living in emergency accommodation.
Obviously nobody will be living in buildings that are unsafe No10 SPOKESWOMAN ON POTENTIAL EVACUATIONS