TRAFFORD Housing Trust (THT) has carried out precautionary safety checks on its tower blocks, in a bid to reassure residents in the aftermath of the horrific blaze at blaze at Grenfell Tower in west London.

The Government has also launched an emergency fire safety review at 4,000 tower blocks across Britain, including Trafford, after the fire, that left at least 17 dead and scores missing.

THT - which manages seven tower blocks in the borough - points out it uses a different cladding to that in place at Grenfell Tower.

Although the cause of the fire last Monday morning has not been confirmed, there has been speculation that the cladding was a major factor in it spreading so quickly.

But THT also admitted that its blocks are not fitted with sprinkler systems - it says it will now review this.

And Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green is calling on THT to carry out an urgent safety review of each of its tower blocks. Ms Green raised the issue of fire safety in tower blocks in Parliament last week.

Grenfell Tower did not have a sprinkler system and there is no legal requirement to install one.

THT has five tower blocks in Old Trafford, one in Urmston and one in Stretford. There are 670 apartment with 800 residents.

THT said it had checked the type of cladding on its high rise towers and this confirmed it is different from the cladding used on the tower block in London.

The cladding system on its seven blocks "is primarily constructed of Rockwool and Alcuban which is different from the system used on the Grenfell Tower."

The spokesman said: "We have a dry riser system in place. For information, a dry riser is an empty pipe that the fire brigade can connect externally to a pressurised water supply system.

"The pipe will have access points at varying locations around the building, including and especially on the higher level floors."

The spokesman confirmed they are looking again at their fire safety systems:

 "There is no current legal requirement to have a sprinkler system installed in the buildings. Following the tragic events this week, we will now review the need for sprinkler systems and other fire detection, eradication and notification systems.

 "In regards to the cladding on our blocks, the systems that we have in place comply with all the appropriate building and safety regulations.”

MP Ms Green said: "‘Following last week's appalling fire in west London, I have been in contact with Trafford Housing Trust to seek assurances for tenants  about fire safety in their tower blocks. 


"Residents' safety is my top priority. I have demanded THT carry out an urgent safety audit of each building, give clear information to tenants about action to take in the event of a fire, based on the latest advice from the fire service, and provide regular and transparent updates to residents. I will continue to press these matters in Parliament as well as with THT."

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s assistant county fire officer and director of prevention and protection, Geoff Harris, has issued a statement reassuring residents following the London tower block fire.

“Firstly I want to express my deepest sympathies to all those affected by the tragic incident in London. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones and seen their homes destroyed and with the emergency services who continue to work in very challenging circumstances. 

 “I want to reassure people in Greater Manchester that incidents of this scale, involving people’s homes, are extremely rare.

 “Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service works closely with local councils and housing providers to ensure all buildings are as safe from fire as possible, and that staff can advise residents about how to stay safe. 

"We have assessed every high rise building in Greater Manchester and our officers and crews visit each one to make sure that they are familiar with the building in case they need to attend any fire or other incident that may happen there.  

“We would urge everyone to ensure they have a working smoke alarm and if your smoke alarm sounds or if you become aware of a fire in another flat our advice is to ‘get out, stay out and call us out’. 

“If you have a specific concern or feel vulnerable please call our Contract Centre on 0800 555 815 who will be able to provide advice or book you in for a Safe and Well Visit.”