An MP is asking residents to come forward with their views on fire safety in care homes.
It comes amid frustration from locals in Crewe that an investigation into a major fire at the Beechmere Care Home still hasn’t been completed.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan is now asking residents to share their thoughts on a series of new fire safety measures that are being proposed by the government.
He said the government has launched a consultation to seek the public’s view on plans that would require all new care homes to install a sprinkler system.
However, Dr Mullan doesn’t think the proposals go far enough.
He said: “Since the Beechmere fire, one of my priorities has been to improve fire safety in buildings housing vulnerable people and made of timber.
“Other countries that use timber have stricter regulations, for example, by requiring sprinklers.
“I think this is particularly important if the building is housing vulnerable people and therefore fully support these proposed measures.
“That is why I am not just pushing for mandatory sprinklers in new care homes but also for multi-storey residential facilities like the Beechmere care complex – and particularly in timber frame buildings.
“I met with the minister responsible at the Fire Safety All Party Parliamentary Group to relay these views to him and will be making my own submission to the consultation.”
It comes around three and a half years after the major fire ripped through the timber-framed building at Beechmere Care Home on Rolls Avenue.
Nearly 150 elderly and disabled people had to be evacuated when the fire took hold on 8th August 2019. It’s thought the blaze started on the roof terrace area of the premises.
Dr Mullan confirmed he plans to arrange a meeting to update former Beechmere residents on what’s happening, following a similar meeting last year with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Your Housing Group.
He said he understands frustrations that an investigation into the incident has still not been published, due to the possibility of prosecutions over the matter.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our criminal investigation in relation to matters concerning Beechmere is continuing.
“This is a complex and multi-faceted investigation, involving several third parties, but we hope to begin court proceedings sometime in 2023, subject to the outcomes and conclusions of the investigations.”
When it was built in 2008, the Beechmere site held the record for the largest timber framed construction in Europe.
There is currently a ban on using combustible frames on buildings that are 18 metres high or taller – one of the steps that was introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
Dr Mullan says he’s asked ministers to consider extending a ban on the use of timber for buildings below 18 metres if they are considered to be high risk – for instance care homes or schools.
More details on the government’s consultation – which runs until 17th March 2023 – can be found here.
Dr Mullan has encouraged people to email their views to: ADBconsultation@levellingup.gov.uk