Fire Safety Fears Rock Portsmouth Tower Blocks
A fire safety event in Portsmouth has laid bare residents’ anger and fear as the council pushes on with cladding removal from two tower blocks. Locals claim the council isn’t doing enough and many still don’t feel safe living there.
Residents Slam Faulty Fire Windows and Emergency Lighting
One resident blew the whistle on fire windows that haven’t worked for over a decade on some floors. They also claimed emergency lighting fails to function. Hampshire Fire and Rescue confirmed these issues were flagged during their inspection of 1 House and repairs are underway.
Cladding Concerns Spark Heated City Hall Debate
At a packed meeting held at Portsmouth’s New Theatre Royal, residents grilled council officials and fire chiefs about safety. Independent tests, conducted after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, revealed dangerous cladding on Horatia and Leamington House in Somerstown.
The council had previously reassured tenants that the towers were safe. However, the testing results suggest otherwise, stirring fresh alarm among residents.
