Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, local governments and independent bodies have been pulling together to encourage the government to pay for new sprinklers to increase the safety of residents in tower blocks.

Sheffield City Council are the latest to join forces with local authorities to urge the government to act.

Councillor Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, joined other senior representatives in delivering a letter calling for funding, signed by Sheffield and 15 local authorities, to 10 Downing Street.

He said, “Following the horror of the Grenfell Tower disaster, we acted quickly to move forward plans to install sprinkler systems in all council-owned tower blocks. I firmly believe this was the right thing to do, and we made this commitment using our own funds, not sure whether we would secure government funding.

“The government might not value tenant safety, but we do - we are making over £400 million in improvements to council homes over the next five years, including significant fire safety measures.

We are committed to ensuring that all council owned tower blocks in Sheffield are fitted with sprinklers, but we feel it is only right that the government pays for this.”

Original Source
The Star