Star date: 15th March 2018

ONLY FOUR SALIX BLOCKS DUE TO HAVE SPRINKLERS FITTED; THREE BLOCKS STILL HAVEN'T HAD LEVEL 3 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

"We've got men flying around in space but they can't put a fireproof protection on the outside of our flats" Salix tenant.

In a new report for Salford City Council, Salix Homes states that, nine months after the Grenfell fire tragedy, "Remedial works to the seven Salix Homes partially cladded blocks is still being discussed".

The work is estimated to cost up to £5million, and Salix adds that only four of its blocks are currently planned to have sprinklers fitted, and three blocks haven't had Level 3 Fire Risk Assessments.

Full details here...

A new report by Salix Homes is due to be presented to the full meeting of Salford City Council next week, complete with an update on its blocks that have dangerous cladding.

Nine months after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, Salix states that "Remedial works to the seven Salix Homes partially cladded blocks is still being discussed with the relevant authorities..."

This comes as no comfort to its tenants still living with the fear of fire safety...

"I'm aghast that all these months down the line, they are still saying they haven't found a suitable replacement" says Canon Hussey resident Tom Nolan "I've been involved with metal fabrication and thermal insulation all my working life and can't believe that nearly a year after the Grenfell Tower fire they haven't come up with a solution...

"We've got men flying around in space and they can't put a fireproof protection on the outside of our flats?" he fumes "I sleep nervously at night. I'm living with paranoia."

Salix adds that "We are increasingly confident the solutions will meet requirements and will commence works as soon as all involved are happy with the solution..."

The company estimates that all of the works, including safety patrols, could cost millions of pounds... "A figure in the region of £3/5m could be expected", the report states.

Meanwhile, only four of 18 of Salix's high rise blocks are due to have sprinklers fitted, these being "where major refurbishments or new developments are planned". The rest are subject to a 'feasibility study'.

In the meantime, Salix reports that "A programme of alarm installation to all 18 high rise blocks is underway, with the three highest risk buildings prioritised". The company doesn't state the names of these 'highest risk' blocks but two of them are believed to be Arthur Millwood and Canon Hussey.

The company reveals in the report that three of the blocks (not named) have had no 'Level 3' Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) at all yet. 

A Level 3 FRA 'inspects some individual flats...and considers the fire resistance of doors leading to rooms within the flats. It would look at means of escape from the flat for the occupants', states the website www.completefiresafetymanagement.co.uk

"Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) has been completed on 15 blocks and most recommendations have now been implemented" states Salix "Some final measures are awaiting parts to complete...A further 3 blocks will have level 3 FRA's done as part of the improvement works due to commence."

The company adds that "Work continues with the fire service to agree as and when the waking watch service can be stood down as the additional safety measures are
implemented".

This could take longer than anticipated, as, today, it's been revealed that doors which were meant to resist fire for thirty minutes at Grenfell, failed after 15 minutes when tested by the Metropolitan Police...

"The Metropolitan Police considered that this test result might have wider implications for public safety and alerted my Department" said Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in Parliament this morning.

Meanwhile, in other Salix Homes developments, the report confirms an earlier Salford Star article that the Salford Housing Options Service will be going back in-house with Salford City Council... "The Board took the decision not to seek to renew the contract on the expiry of the three year contract that commenced upon stock transfer..." (see here).

Salix also confirms in the report that it is not going to become a mutual organisation, as mooted in its stock transfer promises, which would have given tenants a lot more control over its activities...*

"One of the bases for that report was to fulfil the stock transfer promise to consider whether to become a mutual organisation" it states "On the back of the evidence provided, the Board decided that becoming a mutual organisation would not be in Salix Homes best interests..."

The company doesn't say whether it would have been 'in the best interests of its tenants'...

* For full details see follow-up Salford Star article - click here