Probe into Scottish firm after tragedy at Grenfell
A PROBE has been launched into a firm carrying out major repair work on homes across Scotland after it emerged police are investigating its parent company, which fitted fire alarms to Grenfell Tower.
Everwarm has won a multimillion pound contract to install insulation in hundreds of homes.
Its parent company Lakehouse is being investigated by fraud squad officers after accusations it installed defective safety equipment in hundreds of London properties.
In light of the connection, The Sunday Post can reveal Glasgow City Council has urged a check on work carried out by the company.
Kenny McLean, the authority’s convener for housing, confirmed he has “asked principal officers to investigate”.
Lake house, the contractor responsible for testing and maintaining the fire alarms at Grenfell Tower, is being investigated by Scotland Yard relating to a £184 million government grant to renovate council properties and install fire and smoke alarms and emergency lighting in the capital.
Ten people have been arrested by police after Hackney Council received allegations of “fraud and overcharging” which predated Grenfell.
Further investigation revealed some fire safety work to be “defective, including incorrectly installed alarms and emergency lighting systems”.
The council has now written to 166 town hall chief executives across London warning them to check work done by Lakehouse.
The company denies any wrongdoing and Everwarm’s managing director Robert Stirling last night said the Hackney fraud investigation into Lakehouse related to “over- payment” for works undertaken by some subcontractors, the non-performance or below standard performance of works by sub- contractors, and incomplete invoices.
He added: “Since becoming aware of these issues, the company has co- operated fully with the client’s investigations and those of the police into the alleged fraudulent activities of the individuals concerned, including the employees of the company.”
The current presumed death toll from the Grenfell blaze stands at 80. Police have warned that the intense heat of the fire means that no trace of some of the victims will ever be found.
A source at Glasgow City Council said all of the contracts were for low rise properties rather than multistorey flats.
Meanwhile, the Fire Brigades Union, which represents the vast majority of UK firefighters, has branded the ability of crews to respond promptly and professionally to life threatening tower block fires a “postcode lottery”.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack has written to Prime Minister Theresa May to say the Government’s response to the Grenfell blaze “causes us concern and alarm.”
He added: “These new findings are extremely concerning.
“In the light of the terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower, this situation is utterly unacceptable.”