MARIA MILLER MP ; CROWN HEIGHTS RELIEF FUND

 Maria Miller Commented; 

“First Port the managers of the building, having identified a fire safety risk at Crown Heights in January, applied for a grant from the Government “Waking Watch Relief Fund” on 12 February. Following an assessment of the application by the Government department responsible, a query regarding a contingency fund in the application was raised and then resolved on 17 February . The application then went forward for approval at the Waking Watch Fund Board meeting on Tuesday last week, 23 February, part of the due diligence process required when tax payers money is being spent. I have been told by the office of the Secretary of State that the outcome of that meeting will be known by First Port in the next few days once that process is complete. A fund of more than £5billion announced by the Government will cover both “Waking Watch Relief “alarms and remedial works to make high rise buildings fire safety compliant. I have spoken directly to the Fire Chief at Hampshire Fire Service who are closely involved in the issues faced by residents, and they are ensuring both the new alarm and then the remedial works are making the building safe for residents to live in. ”

“Residents in Crown Heights are having to live with the failures of a building industry that didn’t put safety first and a regulatory scheme that failed as well. I will do all I can to support residents who find themselves in this appalling situation through no fault of their own. The £5 billion fund from Government is there to alleviate the failure of the regulatory system with a levy on builders to ensure the industry in part pays for its failure too. In the meantime the Waking Watch Relief Fund will fund alarm systems designed to mitigate additional fire risks, along with additional input from Hampshire Fire and Rescue to ensure the correct response if a fire is reported.“

“I spoke directly to the Secretary of State last week to underline the importance of Government funds being made available as swiftly as possible, a point I reiterated in the debate held on Wednesday  last week. There is, as always, a need to ensure taxpayers money is being used correctly and the review process of the Fund Board that took place 7 days ago is an essential part of the process. I will continue to work closely with residents to establish a Residents Association to help better coordinate communication at this difficult time and to press for the managing agents to establish a complete plan for remedial building works as soon as possible to release residents from this unacceptable situation.“