Dismore questions Barnet Council on fire safety at the Grange Estate
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore has written to the Leader of Barnet Council Richard Cornelius to ask about fire safety on the Grange Estate in East Finchley after a recent fire in Willow House left 13 properties uninhabitable.
Mr Dismore asked about whether effective fire breaks had been installed in the roof, which help stop fire spread.
Mr Dismore said:
‘As a member of the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee at City Hall, I deal regularly with fire safety, and I have been pressing to ensure all homes meet stringent fire safety standards. Barnet Council must ensure all their properties are up to date with fire safety measures. Willow House may be an old building, but it must still be a safe one for people to live in. We are awaiting the fire investigators’ report but they have not been able to enter the building so far, as it is still not safe for them to do so due to the fire damage.
‘I am also pressing Barnet Council to do right by the residents who have lost their homes. They should not be rehoused far away in places like Hillingdon, the Council should put them up in local hotels until they can find suitable local accommodation.’
