Grenfell Tower fire: Mayor Philip Glanville confirms safety review to reassure Hackney residents

Grenfell Tower fire. Photograph: Natalie Oxford via Twitter

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in Kensington, Hackney’s mayor Philip Glanville has confirmed that the council is to review the safety of homes on the borough’s estates.

Meg Hillier, the MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, has asked Hackney Council for a “full low down on Hackney Homes property.”

Mayor Glanville has said on Twitter that it is “Already underway, absolutely right to review the safety of our homes, reassure residents as well as key stakeholders.”

So many questions after tragedy of Grenfell Tower. Have asked @hackneycouncil for full low down on #Hackney Homes property.

— MegHillierMP (@Meg_HillierMP) June 15, 2017

Already underway, absolutely right to review the safety of our homes, reassure residents as well as key stakeholders https://t.co/8C4BraR3lx

— Mayor of Hackney (@mayorofhackney) June 15, 2017

The Hackney Citizen has quizzed the council over the most recent dates on which each of the council’s tower blocks of six storeys and above were fire safety assessed.

The Citizen has also requested details regarding which blocks have been fire risk assessed as low, medium and high risk and what measures if any are being put in place as a consequence.

The council had not responded by time of publication.

Councils such as Redbridge and Camden have been joined by others across the capital in carrying out safety inspections of their tower blocks.

Other cities across the UK are following suit. Nottingham City Homes confirmed it is reviewing procedures at the tower blocks they run, whilst East Kent Housing is examining its flats in Herne Bay and Whitstable, and high rises in Brighton could have sprinklers installed to prevent another tragedy.

Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed that a ministerial group will review regulations in Scotland following the blaze.