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| Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt |
Leader of Southampton Independents, Denise Wyatt, makes the following announcement on behalf of Southampton Independents and local residents who campaigned with us:
"Working with local residents, Southampton Independents has TOTALLY won!
Southampton Independents are delighted that after months of campaigning (see elsewhere on this website) we have a statement from the Council that sprinklers will be installed in ALL Southampton Council tower blocks.
Southampton Independents welcomes the news that the Council has listened.
But questions remain on WHEN will sprinklers be installed and when funding will be clear for ALL high rise blocks in the City, not just a small number.
The Council don't know where the funding is coming from, for the vast majority of tower blocks.
We don’t want Labour Council spin, we want details of when and how. Things are still unclear.
There is no justification for Southampton City Council as Landlords to deny residents the maximum safety.
Southampton Independents will continue our campaign until ALL sprinklers have actually been INSTALLED and are WORKING in ALL Council-owned tower blocks in Southampton."
Commenting after winning this campaign, Andrew Pope says:
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| Andrew Pope on ITV News after Redbridge Towers fire |
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| Sprinklers Save Lives |
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| Sprinkler Demo Fire at Albion Towers |
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| Sprinkler Works at Demo at Albion Towers |
"I have led on this campaign because residents wanted me to. They felt unsafe after the Redbridge Towers and Shirley Towers fires.
I am aware of similar fires in other parts of the country, including in London.
My experience on the Hampshire Fire Authority meant that I learned from fire officers and Authority staff that sprinklers save lives.
That's why I have been working with Denise Wyatt, our Southampton Independents supporters, and other local residents, to get the issue on the front page of the Echo, on local radio news, on national radio news including BBC Radio 5 Live and on ITV News.
I attended the demonstration of sprinklers at Albion Towers. This happened because of my campaign.
I will continue to keep the pressure on the Labour-run Council to deliver. They said residents didn't want sprinklers. That is untrue. They said they didn't have the money. That is untrue too.
Labour failed to protect residents. I will ensure residents are protected."