Public buildings in Congleton could soon have mandatory sprinklers in them
By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter
3rd Nov 2022 | Local News
Public buildings in Congleton could soon have mandatory sprinklers in them.
Cheshire East is the only council in the county not to have yet formally backed the Fire Authority's call for sprinklers to be mandatory in buildings such as schools, care homes and apartment blocks.
The council is expected to do so next week – nearly four months after neighbouring authorities pledged their support.
Cllr Rachel Bailey, who is a member of Cheshire Fire Authority (CFA), said it is 'of grave concern' that Cheshire East has taken nearly four months longer than other councils to consider this.
"In June 2022 members of Cheshire Fire Authority agreed a notice of motion, seeking to promote the use of sprinklers in high-rise buildings, schools and care homes," said Cllr Bailey (Audlem, Con).
"All constituent councils, bar Cheshire East, had considered and supported it by their July council meetings, regrettably Cheshire East members weren't allowed to debate it as it was automatically deferred to the environment and communities committee.
"Three months have passed by and this important issue has yet to be considered by Cheshire East."
The former council leader noted it was now on next week's agenda, but added: "Sprinklers save lives and, in a backdrop of the unthinkable fires of Grenfell Tower and Beechmere in Crewe, it is of grave concern that Cheshire East has taken nearly four months longer than its neighbouring authorities to enable consideration of such an important matter."
Seventy-two people died in the Grenfell fire in 2017. The building did not have sprinklers.
Two years later, around 150 elderly and disabled residents had to be evacuated by firefighters and neighbours in Crewe when fire ripped through the Beechmere retirement complex on an August afternoon.
The timber-framed building did not have sprinklers. Fortunately, at Beechmere, all the residents were rescued.
In June of this year, fire chiefs at a CFA meeting urged all four councils to explore local policy options to promote and secure the fitting of sprinklers in a number of building types when they are built, or when they are refurbished.
They also wanted the local authorities to write to the Secretary of State and local MPs to promote changes to the law to require sprinklers in at least some types of buildings including, but not restricted to, care homes and schools.
Warrington Borough Council backed the request from Cheshire Fire Authority following a motion put forward at its full council meeting in June. Cheshire West & Chester backed it in July, as did Halton.
The item was on the agenda for Cheshire East Council's meeting in July when it was referred, without debate, to the environment and communities committee.
It will now be considered at next week's meeting of that committee which takes place at 10am on Thursday, November 10, at the council's HQ.
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