‘Robust’ fire safety systems in place in council housing stock and venues, Epsom and Ewell spokesman confirms after Grenfell Tower tragedy

All properties within its housing stock – which includes no high-rise flats – also have “robust” fire risk assessments and alarm systems, the spokesman added.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council reviewed fire safety in its housing stock and other venues and buildings – including at Bourne Hall, Epsom Playhouse and the Longmead Centre – following the fire in Latimer Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on June 14.

From June 14: Grenfell Tower fire: This is where people in south London and north Surrey can drop off donations for victims of the North Kensington tragedy

Despite the best efforts of firemen and women, 80 people died in the blaze as it enveloped the tower’s 24 storeys. The death toll is expected to rise.

Fears have spread since the tragedy that other tower block residents nationwide might be at risk.

From today: Get on with fire checks, urges PM as flammable cladding found on 120 high-rises

One hundred and twenty samples of tower block cladding from 37 English local authority areas have since failed fire safety tests – 100 per cent of all submitted samples.

Labour Councillor Vince Romagnuolo wrote to the council this week to ask that it reassure the public of the safety of its buildings, carry out necessary checks and review its emergency procedures.

He wrote: “In the light of the terrible fire in Grenfell Tower last week and the evacuation of tower blocks in Camden over the weekend, there is growing concern that public works carried out by councils and housing associations don’t meet building standards.

“Could I ask, as a matter of urgency, that safety checks be carried out on the council’s housing stock provided and managed by housing associations operating in the borough?

“Furthermore, I ask that all the council’s buildings be inspected to ensure that they met building standards and regulations.”

From June 18: Grenfell Tower fire was a preventable accident, Sadiq Khan says

He continued: “I ask that this council’s emergency procedures be reviewed, so that should an emergency happen in Epsom and Ewell residents can be reassured that the borough council would be able to cope and has in place escalation procedures to ask for external help should the council not be able to deal with the situation.”

A council spokesman responded to Cllr Romagnuolo’s letter, and a similar request from Residents’ Association Councillor Eber Kington.

He stated: “Following the Grenfell Tower incident, we immediately ascertained that no council properties were similarly clad. Neither do we have any buildings that need testing under the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) requirement.

“This council’s own housing stock is limited to a handful of properties none of which are high-rise. We do own two, small low-rise blocks of flats. These have robust fire risk assessments and have fire alarm systems. The management company who run the blocks on our behalf are currently undertaking additional reviews.

“We have also contacted housing associations within the borough seeking clarification that their fire risk assessments are complete and up to date.”

Pic credit: PA

He added: “Our response to how we cope and recover in an emergency is continually reviewed, and is updated as required – this covers such areas as natural disasters, terrorist actions, fire and transport disasters. Our next review was already scheduled to be undertaken in early July.”

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