Southwark Council appoints national fire safety expert to review fire strategy

5 July 2017

Southwark Council has appointed national fire safety expert, Ben Bradford, and his specialist firm of consulting engineers, to carry out an independent review of the council’s fire strategy and fire risk assessments.

Following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington, Southwark committed to commissioning a review, to reassure residents and ensure that all fire safety policies and procedures are appropriate.

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Following the tragic fire at Lakanal in our own borough in 2009, Southwark has done a great deal of work to improve fire safety across our estate and carry out fire risk assessments for all council properties. However, no-one can afford to be complacent after Grenfell, and it’s right that we take a fresh look at what we are doing to reassure ourselves and our residents that we are doing all we can."

The review will begin this month, and is expected to report back to the council in the autumn.

In addition to this technical review the council is asking residents to come forward and join a new fire safety advisory group that will help steer the council’s next steps following the review.

Cllr Cryan continued: “After Grenfell it is starkly apparent that councils need to listen to their residents about fire risks and safety. Southwark tenants and leaseholders already have a number of ways to make themselves heard, through Tenants’ Council, Homeowners' Council, our new Homeowners’ Agency, and the many Tenant and Resident Associations, but there is nothing specifically for fire safety, and I feel it’s important to create a new space for local people to air their concerns.”

Page last updated: 05 July 2017

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