JUST hours after publication of the long-awaited final report from the Grenfell Tower inquiry, Thurrock council has issued a message reassuring borough residents that local properties are safe places to live in.

The council currently has 15 high-rise tower blocks in the borough, including the Blackshots Estate redevelopment programme in Grays where three tower blocks will be demolished to provide better housing for residents.

Yesterday (Wednesday, 4 September), Cllr Mark Hooper, cabinet member for health and well-being and housing, said: "This is a hugely important and long-awaited report that we will read carefully, to ensure we continue to learn the lessons of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, and keep our Thurrock tenants and leaseholders safe.

"We want to reassure residents that we have already carried out extensive works since the tragic fire of 2017 that took hold in the North Kensington 24-storey tower block, and in line with the recommendations set out in Phase 1 of the inquiry.

"These works include undertaking detailed fire risk assessments of our council homes; replacing thousands of fire doors; improving fire stopping measures such as enhancing protection between walls and floors of blocks to stop a potential fire from spreading; and upgrading new fire alarm systems within our council housing including high-rise, low-rise and sheltered housing properties.

"The safety and wellbeing of our tenants and leaseholders is a top priority for the council, which is why we will continue to invest in their homes and talk to them about any issues and concerns they have. We will also continue to work closely with other social and private sector landlords in Thurrock to ensure everyone is safe in their homes, regardless of who their landlord is.

"As always, our thoughts are with the bereaved survivors and the families of the Grenfell Tower victims. We hope that yesterday's report gives them the answers they need."

None of the cladding on Thurrock's high-rise buildings is linked to the cladding on the Grenfell Tower.

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