MP reassured on high-rise flats’ safety
A Wearside MP has spoken to residents living in highrise flats in Sunderland after the recent Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Bridget Phillipson, who represents Houghton and Sunderland South, visited Lakeside Towers to discuss fire safety with members of the Lakeside Residents’ Association (LRA) after the disaster in London last month, in which more than 80 people died.
She met Ozzie Braithwaite, chairman of the LRA, and residents to discuss the measures that housing association Gentoo has taken since the fire.
She was accompanied by staff members from Gentoo and Chris Lane, a station manager in Sunderland from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS).
Ms Phillipson also witnessed a demonstration of the fire alarm system in Aberdeen Tower to understand the robust processes and procedures that Gentoo has in place to protect its buildings from the risk of fire.
Gentoo manages 23 highrise tower blocks, of which 20 have some form of cladding and insulation.
Last month, CEO John Craggs assured residents that none of the high-rise blocks owned by Gentoo have the same cladding and insulation as appears to have been on Grenfell Tower.
He also confirmed that the contractors and subcontractors referred to in the tragedy have not been used within Gentoo.
However, following testing by the Building Research Establishment on samples of cladding panels, Gentoo took the precaution of removing cladding from five high-rise blocks in the St Peter’s area of Sunderland.
None of the Lakeside Towers buildings were affected.
Speaking after the visit, Ms Phillipson said: “I was pleased that they felt so reassured by the help and support that Gentoo and Tyne and Wear Fire Rescue Service have offered since the fire.
“It’s clear that Gentoo have robust procedures in place to mitigate against the risk of fire, and that staff are doing everything they can to make residents feel safe.
“The fire at Grenfell Tower was a national tragedy that should never happen again.
“We all need to learn lessons from this terrible event, and I hope that the public and police inquiries get to the root of what went wrong.
“We must do everything possible to make every highrise building in the country safe from fire.”