E-bikes and e-scooters have been banned from eight council-owned blocks of flats in Brighton after a series of fire safety inspections.
Parking has been suspended under the flats, meaning the closure of car parks under two of the tower blocks, after all eight were found to fall short of current safety standards.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that the safety steps were temporary and although the news was “worrying” there was no immediate danger.
But there were concerns about the ability of the buildings to resist a “disproportionate collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire”.
Several fires are believed to have been started by e-bikes or e-scooters or the lithium batteries that they use including at Richard Allen Court, a block of flats off Lewes Road, Brighton, last October.
At the same time concerns have grown about fire safety in hig-rise flats after 72 people died as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017.
People living in the eight council blocks have been given safety advice and the council is employing a 24-hour security service, also known as a waking watch. The eight blocks are
- Dudeney Lodge in Hollingdean
- Nettleton Court in Hollingdean
- Falcon Court in Whitehawk
- Heron Court in Whitehawk
- Kestrel Court in Whitehawk
- Kingfisher Court in Whitehawk
- Swallow Court in Whitehawk
- St James’ House in Kemp Town
The council said that the new security staff would help manage what was taken into the buildings and support occupants with floor walks and keeping entrances and exits clear.
A further detailed inspection of the communal gas boiler at St James’ House would also take place.
The council said: “We’ve written to residents living in a number of the council’s high-rise blocks with building safety updates following a series of recent structural surveys.
“As part of the council’s responsibilities under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, the council has recently been commissioned detailed structural surveys on the eight council-owned large panel system (LPS) high-rise blocks in the city.
“Large panel systems were popular in the 1950s and 60s for building multi-storey residential buildings across the country.
“The buildings consist of reinforced floor and roof structures supported by precast concrete large panel walls.
“The surveys were carried out on the council’s behalf by independent consultants which included both observational and intrusive surveying.
“And the findings show the building do not meet the current safety standards in relation to their ability to resist a disproportionate collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire.
“While there is no immediate danger to the buildings – and measures such as a ban on gas cannisters and barbecues have long been in place – we have acted on the advice of our independent consultants and taken a number of immediate steps as additional safety measures.
If we are determined to make car use harder and harder (not saying I agree with this!) and notwithstanding their anti-social use by a small minority I think e-scooters are a much more viable solution for many people than bicycles or e-bikes.
Why, well they are easier to use for most people, you can wear normal clothing and wet weather gear and step on one. They are smaller, easier to store and take on public transport (if you were allowed) – ideal for the last mile part of trips.
But if you restrict people taking them on trains or keeping them in their homes then what??
Some of the batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters are a fire and explosion risk. It’s not easy to differentiate between the good ones and the bad ones. To keep the majority safe, a blanket ban in places with limited escape routes is probably the best option.
In this case the restriction on keeping them in a home is, in my opinion. a valid one.
The council hasn’t restricted them in any other way as far as I can tell.
Besides alternative storage is being provided so I don’t see the issue
Have you actually read the article?
Hey Tom, I think you really should read the article beyond the title before commenting next time.
I worked for Deliveroo for a while a few years ago ( Although No-one works for Deliveroo they’re all self-employed so Deliveroo can’t be held accountable)
At least 90% of the cyclists were on actual bicycles. Now nearly all are on illegal e-bikes, they’ve even stopped pretending to pedal when they see the police. Many are converted mountain bikes with the battery taped to the frame. Can’t blame the riders really the algorithm rewards quicker deliveries, you get more work.
Now you can dozens on Western Rd. Don’t know how you can have insurance if the bike is illegal and dangerous.
The police do nothing. There’s FOI requests asking them how many they’re seized and they say they don’t record the number.
All those batteries have to be charged somewhere
It is also worth pointing out that it is not legal to use an escorted on the roads or on any public land in the UK except a scooter from one of the trial hire schemes being run by a local authority. No privately hired escorted can be used legally anywhere in the UK except on private land
Even my autocorrect doesn’t like escooters
Fascinating how the council snap into action!
Yes, remove these escooters, and the ebikes, half of which have systems adapted to go beyond 15.5mph. And dodgy grey market batteries; a life could be saved by this.
Now consider if (if!) many of these emachines have actually been used illegally, on pavements, and as getaways, when the ‘law’ around them is completely ignored – I’ve seen escooters sail past a cruising police car, no action. And this was going the wrong way along St James Street! Too much trouble, and paperwork, and the cells are full!
Now give the bikes back, light blue touch paper and ‘retire’.
The council isn’t responsible for people using e-bikes on the pavement. If the police aren’t doing anything then contact Katie Bourne the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.
They are responsible for maintaining the safety of their buildings and tenants.
And yes the council should “snap into action” when an issue like this is identified. And it has.
It is interesting that things, many varieties of which you cannot use legally except on private land, are barred from taking on aeroplanes, the underground and trains, are permitted in a tower block.
That would be because a plane and train are different to a tower block? 🙃