34 high-rise tower blocks across UK fail fire safety test

London, June 25 (PTI): All high-rise tower blocks tested across the UK so far for flammable material similar to the cladding related to the blaze at a 24-storey residential tower in London last week have failed their compulsory fire safety tests.

The UK-wide fire safety alert on residential tower blocks has been triggered by the Grenfell Tower blaze on June 14, which resulted in at least 79 deaths and displaced hundreds.

UK Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said today that as many as 34 buildings in 17 local council areas in the country were so far affected and tests in other areas are ongoing.

“The fact that all samples so far have failed the tests underlines the value of the testing programme we have set up with the Building Research Establishment to get samples checked properly in the laboratories. It is therefore very important for local authorities and housing associations to continue to submit such samples as a matter of urgency,” the minister said.

“The landlords for all the affected buildings are taking action to inform tenants and implement the interim safety measures needed. Areas affected include the city of Manchester, Camden, Plymouth, Hounslow, Portsmouth, Barnet and Brent,” Javid said.

Not all buildings failing the test are expected to be evacuated as people from Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage in north London spent a second night away from their homes after being moved out on Friday night as the estate was found to be vulnerable.

Javid said the decision to evacuate four towers on London’s Chalcots Estate was taken because a failed cladding test had been “compounded by multiple other fire safety failures”.

Camden Council said that staff would continue asking those people who had not yet left the estate to vacate their flats. About 20 households had refused to leave their homes by Saturday evening.

“By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe. It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents’ safety will continue to be the council’s number one priority,” Camden Council leader Georgia Gould said.

Residents have criticised the chaos the evacuation move has caused to their lives as they are housed in temporary accommodation and hotel rooms acquired by the local council.

British Prime Minister Theresa May had earlier said it is possible for some councils to take “mitigating action” on tower blocks, but in other cases it may be necessary to move people out.

She said the government would ensure councils take “immediate action” over the failed tests, adding: “Absolutely our first priority is people’s safety”.

In a statement, Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who appeared at Glastonbury Festival yesterday, said: “This is now a nationwide threat and the Prime Minister needs to get a grip and lead a national response, including convening the Cobra committee to coordinate Government and public action.”