Portsmouth City Council leader reassures high-rise tenants following tragic London blaze

The Leader of Portsmouth City Council has reassured tenants living in the authority's high-rise buildings, following a tragic fire in a London tower block this morning.
Smoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA WireSmoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire
Smoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire

Councillor Donna Jones said: ‘The council owns 13 tower blocks, over 10 storeys. All of them have a fire risk assessment every 12 to 18 months and comply with the highest fire standards.

‘Our housing service also has a dedicated fire safety officer, and we have regular meetings with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.’

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Cllr Jones’ message of reassurance came after former Tory MP for Portsmouth South, Flick Drummond, tweeted calling for residents’ fears to be relieved.

Ms Drummond tweeted: ‘Ghastly news of the tower block fire in west London. We have a lot of tower blocks in Portsmouth that need reassuring @DonnaPCC’.

Speaking to The News, Ms Drummond said: ‘What happened in London is everyone’s worst nightmare.

‘This might be a time to re-examine the safety procedures in place at our own tower blocks and make people re-aware of them.

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‘Every resident needs to be assured and know where their escapes are and how to get out of their building.’

Smoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA WireSmoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire
Smoke billows from a fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire

Reports suggest several people have died and more than 50 are in hospital following the blaze at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 1am in an attempt to extinguish the fire and evacuate residents from the tower’s 120 flats.