Labour and Conservative councillors have disagreed over the way the council has dealt with the news that two tower blocks do not meet current fire safety standards.
It was announced on Monday (12/10) that Mellish Court, in Bletchley, and The Gables, in Wolverton, do not match the standards that are expected to prevent the "risk of smoke and fire spreading between flats and floors".
Milton Keynes Council has been working alongside Bucks Fire to establish the next steps and has introduced a 24-hour warden service as an interim control measure.
Smoke detectors and fire doors are also being installed whilst the council makes a formal decision as to whether the flats, nearly 200 in total, should be demolished or not.
But today (15/10) the Conservative Group has slammed the council and is calling on officials to "get people out". Labour-led Milton Keynes Council has said that any tenant requesting to move will be rehoused but the Conservatives argue that everybody should be "evacuated from both premises and rehomed immediately".
Cllr Amanda Marlow, the Housing and Communities spokesperson for the Conservatives, has called the news "disturbing" and says the council has "serious questions that require answering immediately". She added: "How long have residents been at risk? Why has the Council allowed these properties to fall below fire safety standards? Why are residents only hearing about this now?
"Residents have clearly been at risk and are still in danger. Had there been a serious incident at one of these properties, we could have been looking at a potentially fatal incident as a consequence of fire safety standards not being met."
A spokesperson from Bucks Fire has since clarified that the risk of fire breaking out has not increased.
And the Labour council's cabinet member for Housing, Cllr Emily Darlington, has responded to the Conservatives' comments saying they are part of a "disgraceful political attack". Cllr Darlington commented: “The safety of our residents is our primary concern. No residents should feel any less safe tonight due to a political press release from the Tory party. I will continue to work with the Fire Service and listen to residents’ views as we bring forward options for the future of these buildings.”
Milton Keynes Council is currently reviewing the situation regarding the two tower blocks and a formal decision is expected within four to eight weeks.
READ MORE: Two tower blocks in Milton Keynes do not meet current fire safety standards
