Forum Topic

Fire Safety Bill

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fire-safety-billFleur Anderson now talking about a local buildings and the problems - Riverside Swish etc.Debate in the House of Commons now.I have been listening to the reading of this Bill off and on for what seems several hours.Following Grenfell and the other fires and the lack of removal of combustible cladding from buildings etc it is interesting to hear all the different MPs talking about the problems that they have had in their constituencies.  There are problems with tall buildings and with houses in multi-occupancy, fire risk assessments, residents having to fund walking watches to keep them safe and more.  So if you've missed it there is still Hansard to read it in - and hopefully more in the press tomorrow.Who is responsible for fire safety.https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2019-21/firesafety.html

Philippa Bond ● 2386d4 Comments

https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/the-cladding-scandal-is-leaving-properties-unsaleable/The debate was really good.  So many problems which need fixing. Who and what is a responsible person who can do fire risk assessments etc.  Somebody has to take responsibility for a building's safety.

Philippa Bond ● 2386d

I agree Philippa.  Unfortunately, as experience has shown us, those who are responsible are not punished, but the fire brigade is.   Building control in any borough are responsible for overseeing the construction and development of any building and issue certificates that all construction, development and/or extension has been carried out according to building regulations (which obviously include fire regulations).  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2386d

Things changed and building control has effectively been privatised perhaps losing clear independence.  Many MPs were speaking on this relating the problems with particular buildings in their constituencies that they had been advised about and the problems their constituents had being unable to sell, being unable to get a mortgage, being unable to get the freeholders to organise repairs and just so much more.  We heard about the Grenfell fire and different types of cladding. There is a problem with testing materials.  There has been a call for a national testing facility - before privatisation we used to have one.  Some things need to stay under independent government regulation.  Would you want Boeing to regulate its own plane defects or Volkswagen to regulate its own diesel emissions?Houses in Multiple Occupation need to be made safe for the occupants.There was so much in this debate that we have seen to be necessary for the safety of residents.  References to Coroner's recommendations on past fires where no action had been taken etc.There were calls for the Fire Brigade to be better financed.It was a really interesting debate

Philippa Bond ● 2386d

Here's Hansard:https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-04-29/debates/F392AA3C-F1D7-4FD4-B2AC-C0E3A6FC0E7B/FireSafetyBilland here are the highlights (not sure quite what!) of yesterday if you want to see/hear it:https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b01mw321/wednesday-in-parliament

Philippa Bond ● 2385d