Call to review of all Haringey high-rise flats, following Camberwell fire which killed 6 07/07/09

Following the horrific fire on the Sceaux Gardens Estate in south London, which claimed six lives, Justin Hinchcliffe of Tottenham Conservatives has urged Haringey Council to conduct an urgent safety audit of all council-owned buildings with six or more floors. Said Justin Hinchcliffe:

"That tower block in Camberwell was not dissimilar to ones we have here in Haringey. Take, for example, the Tiverton estate in Seven Sisters. One of the blocks of flats - Eckington House - only has one esacpe route other than the lifts. I have also seen abandoned car batteries left in the corridors there, which must be a fire hazard. Homes for Haringey, in partnership with the Fire Brigade should immediately review all our higher blocks, defining escape routes,and identify any fire prevention measures which could be taken but which aren't yet in place. They must not wait for the the findings of the inquiry into the Camberwell fire, which may take months. Residents of Haringey's need urgent reassurance that everything is being done that can be done to keep their families safe from fire''

Sean Sullivan, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Tottenham, adds: "Although six people sadly lost their lives in Camberwell, many other lives were saved by having hospitals nearby to deal with serious injury. Heaven forbid anything like that ever happening here in Haringey, but we all need to ask whether any complications would arise through not having a local Haringey-based A&E or burns unit. This is something the politicians and health care professionals need to be asking themselves"

ENDs.