CHESHIRE East is the only council in the county yet to formally back calls for sprinklers to be mandatory in schools, care homes and apartment blocks.
Earlier this summer, the Cheshire Fire Authority (CFA) urged each of the county's local authorities to support a motion seeking to promote the use of sprinklers in various buildings.
But, nearly four months after neighbouring councils pledged their support, Cheshire East is now expected to do so next week.
Cllr Rachel Bailey, who is a member of the CFA, said it is ‘of grave concern’ that Cheshire East has taken so long to consider this.
“In June 2022 members of Cheshire Fire Authority agreed a notice of motion, seeking to promote the use of sprinklers in high-rise buildings, schools and care homes,” said Cllr Bailey.
“All constituent councils, bar Cheshire East, had considered and supported it by their July council meetings, regrettably Cheshire East members weren’t allowed to debate it as it was automatically deferred to the environment and communities committee.
“Three months have passed by and this important issue has yet to be considered by Cheshire East.”
The former council leader noted it was now on next week’s agenda, but added: “Sprinklers save lives and, in a backdrop of the unthinkable fires of Grenfell Tower and Beechmere in Crewe, it is of grave concern that Cheshire East has taken nearly four months longer than its neighbouring authorities to enable consideration of such an important matter.”
Seventy-two people died in the Grenfell fire in 2017. The building did not have sprinklers.
Two years later, around 150 elderly and disabled residents had to be evacuated by firefighters and neighbours in Crewe when fire ripped through the Beechmere retirement complex on an August afternoon.
The timber-framed building did not have sprinklers.
Fortunately, at Beechmere, all the residents were rescued.
In February last year fire chiefs praised the owners of a Mobberley nursing home for fitting a sprinkler system which extinguish the flames quickly after a fire broke out and prevented it from spreading.
In June of this year, fire chiefs at a CFA meeting urged all four councils to explore local policy options to promote and secure the fitting of sprinklers in a number of building types when they are built, or when they are refurbished.
They also wanted the local authorities to write to the Secretary of State and local MPs to promote changes to the law to require sprinklers in at least some types of buildings including, but not restricted to, care homes and schools.
Warrington Borough Council backed the request from the CFA following a motion put forward at its full council meeting in June. Cheshire West & Chester backed it in July, as did Halton.
The item was on the agenda for Cheshire East Council’s meeting in July when it was referred, without debate, to the environment and communities committee.
It will now be considered at next week’s meeting of that committee which takes place at 10am on Thursday, November 10, at the council’s HQ at Westfields in Sandbach.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here