Ulster Unionist Councillor, Jeff Dudgeon MBE, has said that a meeting hosted by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) on their plans for maximising the safety of residents in tower blocks post-Grenfell tragedy, provided welcome reassurance. 

Councillor Jeff Dudgeon MBE said:

“I, along with Roy Beggs MLA, attended a meeting for elected representatives at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive headquarters in Adelaide Street to hear a preliminary outline of the NIHE independent review on Tower Blocks in Northern Ireland.

“The NIHE has 33 blocks with over 1,500 housing units, some privately owned. Four have cladding, with the fourth only half completed, being on hold since the Grenfell tragedy. Two different types of cladding are in use here, both believed to be of a higher non-combustible standard than many used in England.

“The meeting was addressed by Professor Alistair Adair, deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University who has agreed to be the independent chair of the NIHE Tower Block Reference Group. Their final report will be issued in early January but some of the ten likely recommendations include consideration by the NIHE of installing sprinkler systems, the use only of non-combustible cladding, and considerable tenant involvement in information campaigns about safety and evacuation. Bespoke leaflets for each block on alarm types and their use in emergency will be arranged. Individual resident risk -profiles will form part of this.

“As a result of the Coolmoyne tower block fire in Seymour Hill in the Lisburn council area last month, further consideration is being given to evacuation issues and the Stay-Put policy guideline. This will be done in conjunction with the NIFRS.

“It was a very useful and reassuring meeting, especially as I have several tower blocks in my DEA, in Finaghy and Belvoir. Obviously the post-Grenfell Hackett report conclusions in England will have to be considered in due course, especially as regards new fire safety regulations.”