Brierley Hill councillor says fire doors in block of high rise flats are ‘not fit for purpose’
A Brierley Hill councillor says fire doors in a block of high rise flats are ‘not fit for purpose’.
Councillor Matt Cook has been campaigning since he was elected 16 months ago for safety improvements at Dean Court in Chapel Street but says the council is refusing to answer his questions.
Councillor Cook says he knows of tenants who are losing sleep because of safety fears.
He also believes there are similarities with the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 which killed 72 people.
Councillor Cook said: “I found 43 issues in ten minutes, doors don’t fit in frames properly, seals are coming out and door closers are not powerful enough to keep doors closed when it is windy – there are a whole range of issues.
“Grenfell was to do with cladding, Brierley Hill doesn’t have that but there are a lot of things in these flats; when you read the inquiry into Grenfell you can see the similarities.
“If you read the inquiry fire doors were part of it, here the fire doors are not fit for purpose.”
Councillor Phil Atkins, Dudley Council cabinet member for development and regulation, said: “All concerns raised about building safety and compliance are taken seriously and are investigated.
“Should any compliance issues be identified these are remedied in a timely manner taking a risk-based approach to prioritisation of works.”
A Dudley Council spokesperson added: “The council strives to ensure all our homes, including flats are as safe as possible, to ensure this and mitigate risks associated with flatted living all relevant council communal residential sites have Fire Risk Assessments carried out by third party specialist fire contractors completed in line with statutory requirements.
“In addition, higher-risk sites (sites 18 meters and over in height) are subject to flatted front door, fire door inspections completed twelve monthly and communal cross corridor fire door inspections completed three monthly, again completed by a third party specialist fire contractor.”
A Home office factsheet published in 2023 said: “The inquiry noted that the fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in the way that they should so that they prevent smoke and gases from spreading.”
A frustrated Councillor Cook took his concerns to the Regulator of Social Housing.
He said: “If this council has nothing to hide, then why won’t it answer simple questions about whether residents’ homes are safe.
“The fire doors were installed when the flats were built 62 years ago, there hasn’t been the maintenance these doors require.
“Residents deserve to know they are safe in their own homes.”
Councillor Atkins added: “The council works closely with the regulator and provides regular updates on fire safety performance along with other building safety and compliance data for assurance.
“Our officers have been in regular touch with Councillor Cook and he has been invited to site visits, building inspections and meetings with officers.”
