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| Detector and Duct Tape |
We have listened to residents of tower blocks across Southampton.
Residents are very worried about the failings of Southampton City Council to provide adequate safety against fire.
There are THOUSANDS of people who live in the City Council's tower blocks. As shown in fire safety reports, in just ONE block there can be 300-400 people.
We listened to residents' worries after the Redbridge Towers fire back in April 2017.
We listened to the reports on fire safety that residents had given to Southampton City Council, which alarmingly had not been acted upon by the Labour-run Council for YEARS. When the Tories had run the Council, they were no better.
Since the Grenfell Tower disaster, residents have understandably become even more concerned about the failures of the Council to protect them by improving fire safety.
Southampton Independents has repeatedly asked the Council to address residents' concerns IMMEDIATELY. Yet the Council has dithered, or not acted at all.
We have asked why the Council has neglected safety for years. We don't yet have the answers, or enough action. The photo above, taken on Friday 13th October 2017, shows how pathetic the Southampton Labour Council is. A fire detector and tile held on with sticky tape. We have plenty more evidence of Labour's failures.
As shown on this website, Southampton Independents won its campaign for the Council to commit to installing sprinklers in ALL tower blocks. And as shown on this website, the Labour Councillor responsible for Housing, Councillor Warwick Payne, did not want to do it. It was our campaign, working with residents, that made him and the Labour Council change their minds.
We have been repeatedly informing the media about the failures of the Council. Why? Because the Council wasn't listening. And the Council wasn't acting to protect residents.
We are pleased that the BBC, ITV, the Daily Echo and Wave 105 have all reported on the failings of the Council to install sprinklers for seven years after the Shirley Towers tragedy and to take action to protect residents.
We thank all of our media colleagues for helping us to expose and put pressure on the Council.
And we thank residents across Southampton for telling us about the continuing failures of the Labour-run Council to protect them.
Southampton Independents has listened.
Southampton Independents has acted.
Please see our related article for some of the latest evidence we have gathered.
It shows that Labour Councillor for Housing, Cabinet member Warwick Payne and the Labour Leader of the Council Councillor Simon Letts, who is ultimately responsible for Property and the performance of Cabinet members, have continued to put lives at risk DESPITE all of the warnings and complaints.
They both should resign in shame.
And if they do not resign as councillors, we ask Southampton residents to VOTE LABOUR OUT IN MAY 2018 at the City Council elections. Labour only has a majority of two seats of 48.
And don't forget, the Tories were rubbish at running the Council before Labour got in.
Vote for Southampton Independents candidates at the May 2018 local elections.
Southampton Independents stand up for action, not words.
