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Croydon safety measures in wake of Grenfell Tower fire

Twenty-five housing blocks in Croydon will get fire sprinklers after the council reviewed all its housing blocks following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The safety measures will be installed in all blocks over 10 storeys high following a review of all of its blocks with independent checks being carried out on the cladding of 16 council blocks over six storeys high.

In the wake of the fire in North Kensington last Wednesday which killed at least 79 people, checks have already confirmed the materials used in four of the clad blocks are good-quality and fire retardant.

“This council is committed to installing fire sprinklers in 25 council blocks with 10 storeys or taller because last week’s tragedy showed we all need to bolster fire safety measures for our residents,” said Croydon Council’s deputy leader Alison Butler.

“I will also be writing to the Government challenging them to give us more support in our plans to make our borough safer.

“We will continue to work with London Fire Brigade to ensure our housing continues to meet fire safety standards, and we will respond to any recommendations that emerge from the Grenfell Tower investigation.”

Croydon Council chief executive Jo Negrini had opened her speech in the Croydon session at last week’s London Real Estate Forum by underlining the importance of safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze.

“It puts some perspective on what a responsibility we as an industry – both construction industry but also local authorities and public service bodies –have to make sure places are safe for people to live in,” she said.

“From our point of view creating safe places for people should be at the heart of everything we do.”

The council says that since 2009 it has invested around £10m in upgrading fire safety in its council stock, with sprinklers being provided in six special sheltered accommodation blocks for the elderly.

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