SAFETY improvement work has been completed at a Leamington tower block in the wake of the Grenfell fire tragedy.
The work at Radcliffe Gardens off Brunswick Street was the first stage in a £2.5million transformation of the nine high rise blocks owned and managed by Warwick District Council.
Fire safety features include new 60 minute fire-resistant doors for every flat; new communal doors and screens to further increase protection; new smoke venting to the stairwells; sprinkler systems in the bin stores; and upgraded emergency lighting and signs.
The work also included sealing off cabling to avoid any difficulty during a fire, and gaps were filled to prevent the spread of any fire and smoke.
The council is now rolling out its programme to its other high rise blocks. Warwick District Council has seven
residential tower blocks – Eden Court, Southorn Court, Ashton Court, Christine Ledger Square, Radcliffe Gardens, Stamford Gardens and Westbrook House, and two smaller blocks in Binswood Street and Clarendon Square. All are in Leamington.
Communal areas at all nine have already been inspected by Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service to ensure repairs to doors and safety screens had been completed, new fire signage provided and communal alarms updated.
Work is now underway at Clarendon Square and at Binswood Street, and it is hoped work will be completed on all nine blocks by next summer.
District housing spokesman Coun Peter Phillips said: “I am delighted with the work that has been undertaken at Radcliffe Gardens and this provides a good model for the work we are carrying out in all our high rise blocks.
“Following the Grenfell fire tragedy we wanted to ensure high safety standards were delivered whilst at the same time taking the opportunity to improve the look and feel of our tenants’ and leaseholders’ homes.
“This programme of work has delivered on both fronts, so that our tenants can be assured of the high safety standards in their homes and proud of the new look spaces leading to them.”
The work, paid for from council reserves, has also included repainting communal areas and installing new flooring and lighting.
