A 24/7 waking watch has been put in place at 10 blocks of council flats after a fire safety inspection found “issues with stairwell panels”.
The 1950s flats are on the Bristol Estate, in Brighton, and have only one set of stairs each, adding to concerns.
The inspection was carried out on Tuesday (18 March) by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service at Hazel, a six-storey block of 24 flats in Turton Close.
In the event of smoke or a fire, residents are now being told that they should evacuate immediately rather than stay put.
They were told to keep all common areas clear and reminded that, in the event of a fire, they should use the stairs, not lifts.
But Labour councillor Gill Williams, Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for housing and new homes, said: “We would like to reassure residents that their homes are safe.”
The 10 blocks affected by the change are Allamanda, Calendula, Cherry, Damson, Hazel, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Meadowsweet, Sorrel and Viscaria.
The latest concern comes seven months after a critical report from the Regulator of Social Housing which was set up after the Grenfell Tower fire in which 72 people died in June 2017.
The official watchdog said last August that the council’s housing department had “serious failings” and needed to make “significant improvements”.
Councillor Williams said: “We have introduced a ‘waking watch’ for the high-rise blocks on the Bristol Estate as a temporary precautionary measure to ensure resident safety. We would like to reassure residents that their homes are safe.
“The change follows an inspection by the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service that found issues with the stairwell panels in the buildings.
“They advised us to change our evacuation procedures until we can fix the issue. We do know what’s required and are planning to get this work done as soon as we possibly can.
“In the meantime, we’ll have the waking watch in the area 24/7 to ensure everyone can evacuate quickly and safely if there is a fire.
“We know changes like this can be concerning and we do apologise for any worry caused.
“We are holding resident meetings in the community room this week and will keep residents fully up-to-date as the plans progress.”
The council committed to spending £15 million after the Regulator of Social Housing’s report last summer.
The report was published days after the council announced the appointment of Genette Laws to the new position of corporate director – housing, care and wellbeing. She arrived last autumn from Southwark council in London.
