High rise residents urged to speak out to improve fire safety

People living in high rise buildings across Greater Manchester are being given the opportunity to give their opinions on their homes to the Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force.

The survey, available on GM Consult, has been launched to help the Task Force provide further evidence of the impact on residents living in high rise buildings following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire and inform the future work of the Task Force.

It will run until July 28, 2019.

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor and Chair of the Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force, said: “This research will help us to better understand the issues and concerns residents of high rise buildings have. This may be how safe they feel, if and how they have been impacted by the fire at Grenfell and if they are facing increased costs because of work required to their building.

“Since the launch of the High Rise Task Force we have worked tirelessly to ensure every tower block across Greater Manchester has been inspected and necessary steps taken to ensure the immediate safety of residents in the case of fire and that all residents have received information about their blocks.”

The research will also look into residents’ understanding of fire safety and the safety measures of their building.

Paul added: “We want to make sure that people are safe and feel safe in their homes. By filling out this survey you will help us help you.”

The High Rise Task Force brings together all 10 local authorities, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, landlords of tower blocks across the city-region in both private and public ownership, as well as representatives from Universities, Utility Companies and other specialist teams to ensure buildings are safe and that Greater Manchester could respond effectively to a major high rise incident.

Since it was established, the work of the taskforce has included:

• Inspecting every residential high rise in Greater Manchester by GMFRS to ensure they comply with fire regulations. GMFRS officers have and continue to work with local authorities, social landlords and buildings in private ownership to address fire safety concerns

• Full participation and submission of evidence to Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. The interim report echoed Greater Manchester’s findings that the building regulations system is not fit for purpose and needs to be overhauled

• Looking at developing plans for a Greater Manchester standard of fire safety, putting the safety of buildings and those living and working in them at the centre

• Continuing to lobby Government to provide clear guidance and the necessary funding to ensure our buildings and our residents are safe. This includes supporting housing providers and building owners with interim fire safety measures and the replacement of cladding systems, ensuring our fire and rescue service has the resources it needs to effectively enforce fire safety legislation, and protecting residents

The GM High Rise Task Force has met to look at the implications of the government’s current Building a Safer Future consultation and the High Rise Residents Forum is meeting on the July 11 at 6pm to look at this from a Residents perspective. The results of the survey will help shape the Task Force response to the consultation.

High rise residents can let the task force know about their experiences, thoughts, opinions and concerns through the survey here.