Residents reassured in wake of Grenfell
Cladding not same type as used at tragic tower
Residents of high-rise flats in East Kilbride have been given further reassurance following the Grenfell Tower blaze.
South Lanarkshire Council carried out immediate checks of its 21 highrise residential blocks in the immediate aftermath of the tragic fire in West London and had assured people that none were clad with the same materials used at the inferno block.
Now residents of 11 high-rises which have been over-clad in the past have have been given specific details of the materials used.
These include Clyde, Calder and Whitcart Towers in East Kilbride.
Residents of the other 10 high-rises have received confirmation that their premises have not been over-clad.
The council has also engaged with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service which carries out quarterly fire safety checks on all high-rise residential blocks in the area.
Fire chiefs have undertaken further inspections of all local residential highrises since the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Their advice in terms of high-rise fire safety has not changed.
Housing and technical resources committee chair, Councillor Josh Wilson, said fire safety was a priority and the council will continue to review all arrangements, including additional physical checks, to see if further action would further enhance safety.
Cllr Wilson said: “We understand that residents need assurances regarding their homes, and that is why we have moved swiftly and decisively to carry out the necessary checks.”
Executive director of housing and technical resources Daniel Lowe said: “We can be clear that council-owned high-rise housing blocks do not have the same type of cladding used in Grenfell Tower. We are writing to all residents who live in our high-rise housing blocks to inform them of the actions that have been taken.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service carries out quarterly inspections of all council high-rise housing properties.
This programme of inspections is strictly adhered to within South Lanarkshire and as an additional precaution all blocks were re-inspected by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on June 15.
The council’s health and safety Monument to horror section has also recently completed additional fire risk assessments, resulting in all blocks having been assessed in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani has welcomed the Scottish Government’s review of building and fire safety regulation.
She said: “We cannot be complacent given the travesty of Grenfell Tower.
“It’s very important that we take a fresh look at all of our regulations and I welcome the Scottish Government’s new ministerial working group on building and fire safety.
“I am also pleased that South Lanarkshire Council has carried out an urgent assessment of its high-rise housing blocks, finding none with the same specification of cladding materials as those used at Grenfell Tower.”