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Grenfell Tower block blaze in London sparks fire review by East Kent Housing in Herne Bay and Whitstable

16:08, 14 June 2017

A housing provider is reviewing safety at tower blocks in Herne Bay and Whitstable following a devastating fire in London.

Six people were killed and 74 injured, including 20 critically, when the 24-storey Grenfell Tower building in the west of the capital caught fire overnight.

Now East Kent Housing, which manages Elizabeth and Margaret Court in Herne Bay as well as Windsor House in Whitstable for Canterbury City Council, is reviewing fire safety at the three blocks in the district.

A huge fire engulfed Grenfell Tower in London
A huge fire engulfed Grenfell Tower in London

The council's deputy chief executive Velia Coffey says East Kent Housing will be in contact with residents.

"Our thoughts go out to everyone who has been involved in the tragic events in London," she said.

"East Kent Housing (EKH) manages our housing stock on our behalf and we have three towers blocks in the district - Elizabeth Court and Margaret Court in Herne Bay, and Windsor House in Whitstable.

Elizabeth Court is one tower block managed by East Kent Housing
Elizabeth Court is one tower block managed by East Kent Housing

"We can reassure people that, over and above EKH's routine programme of work on fire risk assessments, they will today be reviewing fire safety at all three blocks, in particular looking at fire alarms/detection systems, refuse chutes and ventilation.

"EKH will also be in touch with tenants today to reassure them and remind them of the safety procedures for each block as agreed with Kent Fire and Rescue and set out in the fire risk assessments. This advice may vary according to the individual block.

"It is obviously too early to speculate on what happened at Grenfell Tower but of course we would look at any lessons that come out of this fire."

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