Greenwich in top six UK authorities for dangerous tower cladding
Yesterday I was reading an article about unsafe cladding that had failed tests after the Grenfell fire last year. 312 are now known to have similar combustible cladding.
I then found figures released by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It lists UK authorities with cladding on towers that are found to be unsafe. The document dates from 22nd January 2018.
And scrolling through reveals that Greenwich borough has at least 11 such blocks, which puts it in the top six areas in the entire country. That’s hundreds of authorities.
This is not only council blocks but also Housing Associations and private blocks.
It’s more than the entire cities of Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham and 29 other London boroughs.
Lewisham borough has between 1 and 6 towers with combustible cladding.
Only buildings over 18 metres have been tested.
There’s no details on exactly what blocks have failed the test or who owns them.
Details from other areas has entered the public domain, such as towers in New Cross, but nothing has come out regarding any Greenwich borough blocks as far as I’m aware.
Actually there are no council blocks with this ACM cladding but there are private developments with failed cladding. There are leaseholders affected and also some Housing Association tenants. The council supports its residents, calls on the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to intervene and calls on the building owners to deal with the replacement of the failed cladding. The borough has the safety of its residents in mind and stands by them. We are advised by the London Fire Brigade with regard to fire safety. and the need for any waking watch
Thanks for the clarification. The govts release should have included those figures instead of being g vague and not differentiating. Agree that central govt should be doing much more.
@Cllr Hyland: I used to live in a council owned block and received the communication from John Comber following the Greenfell House fire. I was not re-assured by the letter in the face of the council having failed to provide the fire doors that were first proposed back in 2015. Mr Comber did not even have the courtesy to respond to my concerns.
Councillor Hyland – Greenwich Council has a legal responsibility for the safety of all housing in the borough – not just council blocks.
As you are aware, you have enforcement powers available to you under the Housing Act to force the removal of defective cladding which you appear not to be using – why is that?
It is now 7 months after Grenfell and other Boroughs have successfully taken action to force removal of defective cladding without trying to pass the buck to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.